Methods and systems for seed planting management and control

• US 6,386,128 B1
• Filed: 07/30/2001
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance LLC (Battelle Memorial Institute)
• Original Assignee: Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC
• Inventors: Harker, David J., Hoskinson, Reed L., Hess, J. Richard, Svoboda, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US09/918,586
• Time in Patent Office: 288 Days
• Field of Search: 111/200, 111/900, 111/922, 701/50, 172/1, 172/2
• US Class Current: 111/200
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/005 Precision agriculture
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/105 Seed sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/90 Methods of planting seeds and miscellaneous compositions

Abstract

A seed planting system providing optimal seed spacing in an agricultural field. The seed planting system includes a mobile seed planter having one or more planting shoes, or members being adapted for towing by a farm vehicle or being self-propelled. Sensors, disposed proximate to respective planting shoes, detect seed planting events and send corresponding signals to a computer. Contemporaneously, a geospatial locator acquires, and transmits to the computer, the geospatial location of each planted seed. The computer correlates the geospatial location data with the seed deposition data and generates a seed distribution profile indicating the location of each seed planted in a zone of interest to enable the control of speed spacing.

Claims

1. A seed planting system, comprising:

a mobile seed planter; and

a seed planting data acquisition system including;

at least one sensor mounted to the mobile seed planter and

configured and arranged to acquire seed deposition data;

a geospatial locator configured and arranged to acquire seed location data corresponding to the seed deposition data; and

a computer in communication with the at least one sensor and the geospatial locator, the computer receiving and processing the seed deposition data and the seed location data.

2. The seed planting system of claim 1, wherein the geospatial locator comprises at least one of the group consisting of a global positioning system, a radar/speed sensor system, a mechanical measurement device, an optical sensor, a radio-telemetry device, and an electro-magnetic wave transceiver based system.

3. The seed planting system of claim 1, wherein the mobile seed planter comprises a potato seed planter.

4. The seed planting system of claim 1, wherein the mobile seed planter comprises at least one planting shoe and the at least one sensor being mounted proximate to the at least one planting shoe.

5. The seed planting system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of the group consisting of an electromagnetic field sensor, optical sensor, infra-red sensor, sonic sensor, electromechanical sensor, laser sensor, and interrupted light sensor.

6. The seed planting system of claim 1, further comprising a communications link in communication with the computer.

7. The seed planting system of claim 6, wherein the communications link comprises an electromagnetic wave receiver.

8. The seed planting system of claim 1, further comprising at least one planter speed sensor in communication with the computer.

9. The seed planting system of claim 1, further comprising a display panel in communication with the computer and located so as to be visible to an operator of the mobile seed planter.

10. A seed planting data acquisition kit suitable for use in conjunction with a seed planter, the seed planting data acquisition kit comprising:

at least one sensor configured to acquire seed deposition data;

a geospatial locator configured to acquire seed location data corresponding to the seed deposition data; and

a computer configured for communication with the at least one sensor and the location acquisition system, the computer receiving and processing the seed deposition data and the seed location data.

11. The seed planting data acquisition kit of claim 10, further comprising a communications link in communication with the computer.

12. The seed planting data acquisition kit of claim 11, wherein the communications link comprises a electromagnetic wave receiver.

13. The seed planting data acquisition kit of claim 10, wherein the geospatial locator comprises a global positioning system receiver.

14. The seed planting data acquisition kit of claim 10, further comprising at least one planter speed sensor in communication with the computer.

15. The seed planting data acquisition kit of claim 10, further comprising a display panel in communication with the computer.

16. A seed planting data acquisition kit suitable for use in conjunction with a seed planter, the seed planting data acquisition kit comprising:

at least one sensor configured to acquire seed deposition data;

means for acquiring seed location data corresponding to the seed deposition data; and

a computer configured for communication with the at least one sensor and the location acquisition system, the computer receiving and processing the seed deposition data and the seed location data.

17. The seed planting data acquisition kit of claim 16, wherein the means for acquiring seed location data comprises a global positioning system, a radar/speed sensor system, a mechanical measurement device, an optical sensor, a radio-telemetry device, and a electro-magnetic wave transceiver based system.

18. A mobile seed planter configured for accommodating a seed planting control system suitable for implementing substantially real time management and control of the mobile seed planter, the seed planting control system comprising:

a control module in operative communication with a vehicle including a prime mover; and

a seed planting data acquisition system including;

at least one sensor mounted to the mobile seed planter and configured and arranged to acquire seed deposition data;

a geospatial locator configured and arranged to acquire seed location data corresponding to the seed deposition data; and

a computer in communication with the at least one sensor and the geospatial locator, the computer receiving the seed deposition data and the seed location data and transmitting instructions to the control module, the instructions corresponding to received seed deposition data and seedlocation data, and the control module using the instructions to cause a corresponding response by the vehicle including a prime mover.

19. The seed planting control system of claim 18, further comprising at least one remote computer configured for communication with the computer by way of a communications link, the instructions being generated at the remote computer and transmitted to the computer by way of the communications link.

20. The seed planting control system of claim 18, further comprising a planter speed sensor in communication with the computer, the control module adjusting speed of the vehicle in response to data provided by the planter speed sensor.

21. The seed planting control system of claim 18, wherein the vehicle including a prime mover is a farm vehicle capable of towing the mobile seed planter.

22. The seed planting control system of claim 18, wherein the vehicle including a prime mover is integral with the mobile seed planter so as to be self-propelled.

23. A method for seed planting with a mobile seed planter comprising:

(a) depositing a seed;

(b) acquiring seed deposition data for the deposited seed;

(c) acquiring seed location data for the deposited seed;

(d) processing the seed deposition data and the seed location data;

(e) adjusting at least one seed planting parameter consistent with the seed deposition data and the seed location data; and

(f) repeating steps (a) through (e).

24. The method of claim 23, wherein adjusting at least one seed planting parameter comprises adjusting planter speed.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising storing the seed deposition data and the seed location data.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the adjusting of at least one seed planting parameter occurs substantially automatically.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the acquiring of seed deposition data for the deposited seed occurs substantially in real time.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the acquiring of seed location data for the deposited seed occurs substantially in real time.

29. The method of claim 23, further comprising displaying at least a portion of the seed deposition data and the seed location data.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein displaying at least a portion of the seed deposition data and the seed location data comprises displaying at least a portion of the seed deposition data and the seed location data in a form of a histogram.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein displaying at least a portion of the seed deposition data and the seed location data in the form of a histogram comprises indicating an integrated variation in seed spacing over a predetermined time interval.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the displaying of at least a portion of the seed deposition data and the seed location data occurs after the processing of the seed deposition data and the seed location data.

33. In conjunction with planting of an agricultural field, a method for generating a seed distribution profile, the method comprising:

acquiring seed deposition data for a plurality of seeds;

acquiring seed location data for each of the plurality of seeds; and

arranging at least the seed location data in a predetermined format.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein arranging at least the seed location data in a predetermined format comprises using a graphical display.

35. The method as recited in claim 33, wherein the seed location data is acquired substantially in real time.

36. The method as recited in claim 33, wherein the seed deposition data is acquired substantially in real time.

37. The method as recited in claim 33, wherein the seed location data comprises geospatial location data.