SEEDING CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20130124055A1
• Filed: 07/27/2011
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Precision Planting LLC (AGCO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Precision Planting LLC (AGCO Corporation)
• Inventors: Baurer, Phil, Koch, Justin, Beyer, Keith, Schlipf, Ben
• Granted Patent: US 9,955,625 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 21/005 Following a specific plan, e.g. pattern
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/102 Regulating or controlling the seed rate
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/105 Seed sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/107 Calibration of the seed rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/001 the frequencies being arranged in component carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0016 Time-frequency-code
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0019 in which one code is applied, as a temporal sequence, to all frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/005 of common pilots, i.e. pilots destined for multiple users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals

Abstract

A seeding control system and method to improve yield by minimizing overplanting and underplanting during planting operations. As the planter traverses the field, a precise seed placement map is created by associating the time of each seed pulse generated by the seed sensors with the location of a GPS unit. Based on the generated seed placement map, a stop-planting boundary is defined by previously planted seed or other field boundary such that when a swath of the planter crosses over the stop-planting boundary the swath controllers disengage the drivers of the corresponding seed meters to prevent planting of seeds. The swath controllers cause the drivers to reengage allowing planting to resume when the affected swaths pass out of the stop planting boundary.

Claims

1. A method of generating a seed placement map for a field, said method comprising:

a) detecting each seed pulse generated by a seed sensor as seed passes through a seed path of a row unit of a planter as it traverses a field during planting operations;

b) determining a seed placement location of each seed in said field by associating a time or each generated seed pulse with a location of a GPS unit;

c) storing in memory each said seed placement location within said field.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said planter comprises a plurality of swaths, each swath comprising at least one of said row units.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein each swath includes a drive that controls dispensing of seeds from said swath.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein each swath includes a swath controller that upon actuation operably disengages said drive to stop seeds from being dispensed by said swath.

5. The method of claim 4 whereby as said planter traverses said field during planting operations said swath controllers are actuated to operably disengage said drives to stop seeds from being dispensed by said corresponding swaths upon said corresponding swaths passing over any previously stored seed placement locations.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein a stop-planting boundary is defined by one of a group comprising:

any previously stored seed placement locations;

a field outer boundary; and

a field inner boundary.

7. The method of claim 6 further including selection of a desired coverage pattern from a group comprising:

underplanting;

overplanting; and

50/50-overplanting/underplanting of said stop-planting boundary.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining a drive delay between a command sent to said drive and a desired change in seed placement using said seed pulses; and

timing a subsequent command based on said drive delay.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining a swath control delay between a command sent to said swath controller and a desired change in seed placement using said seed pulses; and

timing a subsequent command based on said swath control delay.

10. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

activating said drive at an activation time; and

displaying an alert to a user if no seed pulses are detected within a predetermined time after said activation time.

11. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

actuating said swath controller at an actuation time; and

displaying an alert to a user if seed pulses are detected after a predetermined time after said actuation time.

12. A method of calibrating an agricultural planter configured to dispense seeds, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting seeds as they are dispensed by a row unit of the planter;

sending a control signal to a control device of said planter such that a delay exists between said control signal and a resulting change in seed dispensation; and

measuring said delay based on a time at which one or more seeds are dispensed after said control signal is sent.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said control device is a swath controller that upon actuation operably disengages said drive to stop seeds from being dispensed.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said control device is a drive that controls dispensing of seeds.

15. The method of claim 13, further including the steps of:

measuring said delay multiple times; and

determining a portion of said delay which is dependent upon a rate at which seeds are discharged prior to actuation of said swath controller.

16. A seeding control system for an agricultural seed planter having a plurality of row units, each of the plurality of row units having a seed meter adapted to discharge seeds in a seed path, the seeding control system comprising:

a swath controller operably coupled to said planter;

a GPS unit configured to determine a location of said planter;

a monitor system in communication with said GPS unit and said swath controller, said monitor system configured to determine whether one of a plurality of stop-planting conditions exists at said location, said monitor system further configured to allow a user to select a subset of said stop-planting conditions at which said swath controller is actuated; and

a seed sensor disposed with respect to the seed path to generate seed pulses as the seeds pass, wherein said monitor system is configured to determine a seed placement location of each seed by associating a time of each generated seed pulse with a location of said planter.

17. The monitor system of claim 16, wherein one of said stop-planting conditions includes crossing a field outer boundary.

18. The monitor system of claim 16, wherein one of said stop-planting conditions includes crossing a field inner boundary.

19. The monitor system of claim 16, wherein one of said stop-planting conditions includes entering an area in which the operator plans to plant seed at a later time.

20. The monitor system of claim 16, wherein one of said stop-planting conditions includes crossing over other seed placement locations.