Research on the sowing performance monitoring system for precision seeders based on photoelectric sensor

Objective To design a sowing performance monitoring system based on photoelectric method, so as to solve the problems of miss-seeding, re-seeding and lack of precision in seeding volume during the single grain precision seeding process for crops such as corns and beans.

Method Infrared sensors were applied to capture the pulse signal when the seeds were falling. The signal was processed by a micro-processor, the time gap between successive seed falling was summarized and compared with the designed time gap to obtain the miss-seeding rate, re-seeding rate and seeding volume. Vertical scoop wheel seedmeter was used as the test object to monitor the miss-seeding, re-seeding performance and seeding volume.

Result The monitoring accuracy rate for single grain of this monitoring system reached 98.8%. Compared with the results of the test-bed for testing performance of the seedmeter, the monitoring error of miss-seeding rate was below 0.3%, the monitoring error of re-seeding rate was below 0.6% and the monitoring accuracy rate of seeding volume was above 94.4%.

Conclusion The monitoring system works stably and has high accuracy.