Photo-optical sensor system for rapid evaluation of planter seed spacing uniformity

Changhe Chen; Michael F. Kocher; John A. Smith

doi:10.1117/12.198885

6 January 1995 Photo-optical sensor system for rapid evaluation of planter seed spacing uniformity

Changhe Chen, Michael F. Kocher, John A. Smith

Proceedings Volume 2345, Optics in Agriculture, Forestry, and Biological Processing; (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.198885
Event: Photonics for Industrial Applications, 1994, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

Seed spacing uniformity is crucial to crops such as sugarbeets. Planter manufacturers, dealers, and sugarbeet growers are interested in how uniformly planters place seeds into the soil. The current laboratory method for testing planter accuracy uses a stationary planter unit to place seeds onto a grease belt, allowing visualization of the seed spacings. This method, however, is very difficult and time consuming. Automation of the test using photonics is desirable. A rectangular photogate block was designed with light emitting diodes (LEDs) opposite photo- transistors. Twenty-four pairs of LEDs and photo-transistors were connected to a digital I/O board on a personal computer to detect space and time between seeds. During laboratory testing of a planter unit, the photogate was positioned beneath the seed drop tube to simulate the bottom of a furrow. A program was developed to poll the twenty four digital channels and three counters so no seeds could go through the photogate without being detected. Planter ground speed was monitored through a magnetic switch. Histograms of seed spacing and relative location of seed passing through the photogate were provided for each test. The outputs conform with the requirements of International Organizations for Standardization 7256/1 - 1984.

Citation Download Citation

Changhe Chen, Michael F. Kocher, and John A. Smith "Photo-optical sensor system for rapid evaluation of planter seed spacing uniformity", Proc. SPIE 2345, Optics in Agriculture, Forestry, and Biological Processing, (6 January 1995); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.198885

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