Planter quality manager

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12029151-B2
Application number	US-202117515005-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2021
Priority date	Mar 19, 2021
Publication date	Jul 9, 2024
Grant date	Jul 9, 2024

Abstract

Systems and methods for monitoring seed placement by a planting machine with a plurality of row units. An average seed placement metric is calculated for each individual row unit based on a data stream of sensor data corresponding to a defined calculation window. Each calculated metric is compared to a defined performance threshold and an error alert signal is transmitted based on the comparison. The calculation window can be adjusted by a user and the average seed placement metrics and the error alert signal are updated based on the adjusted calculation window. A graphical user interface also displays the calculated metrics for each individual row unit in a row data table and updates the row data table in response to receiving the user selection of the new calculation window.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seed placement monitoring system, the system comprising:
an electronic controller configured to
receive a data stream from one or more sensors of a seed planting machine, wherein the data stream is indicative of seed placement in a field by each of a plurality of row units of the seed planting machine;
calculate, based at least in part on the data stream, an average seed placement metric for a defined calculation window for each of the plurality of row units;
display a user interface on a display screen, the user interface including a row data table with a plurality of line entries each corresponding to a different one of the plurality of row units, wherein each line entry includes an identification of a row unit corresponding to the line entry and the calculated average seed placement metric for the row unit;
compare the average seed placement metric for each of the plurality of row units to a performance threshold;
transmit an error alert signal based on the comparison;
receive, through the user interface, an adjusted calculation window; and
calculate updated average seed placement metrics for the adjusted calculation window; and
update the row data table and the error alert signal based on the updated calculation.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to calculate the average seed placement metric by calculating a seed singulation metric indicating a percentage of intended seed placements that includes an individual seed placed by the row seed planter.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to transmit the error alert signal by transmitting the error alert signal in response to determining that a seed singulation metric for at least one row unit of the plurality of row units is below a defined threshold percentage.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to display the user interface including the row data table by displaying the row data table with the plurality of line entries displayed in order from a lowest seed singulation metric to a highest seed singulation metric.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to transmit the error alert signal by causing a graphical user interface to display a visual indication in the row data table of one or more line entries of the plurality of line entries with a seed singulation metric value that is below the performance threshold.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to update the error alert signal based on the updated calculation by removing the visual indication in the row data table in response to determining that an updated seed singulation metric value for the row unit calculated for the adjusted calculation window is not below the performance threshold.

7. The system of claim 4 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to update the row data table based on the updated calculation by updating the calculated seed singulation metric value for each line entry and re-sorting the line entries to display the plurality of line entries in order from a lowest updated seed singulation metric to a highest updated seed singulation metric.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to calculate the average seed placement metric by calculating a seed depth metric indicative of an average depth at which seeds come to rest in the field after being dispensed by the row unit.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to transmit the error alert signal by transmitting the error alert signal in response to determining that a seed depth metric for at least one row unit of the plurality of row units is outside of a defined range.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to automatically adjust an applied downforce of the row unit in response to the error alert signal.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the defined calculation window includes a defined distance travelled by the seed planting machine prior to reaching a current location of the seed planting machine, and wherein the electronic controller is configured to calculate the average seed placement metric for the defined calculation window by calculating the average seed placement metric based on the data stream for seeds placed by the seed planting machine within the defined distance.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to display the user interface by displaying the user interface including an interface element configured to display a plurality of possible calculation window distances, and wherein the electronic controller is configured to receive the adjusted calculation window by receiving a user input selecting one of the plurality of possible calculation window distances from the interface element.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to transmit the error alert signal by transmitting the error alert signal to an output device configured to generate, in response to receiving the error alert signal, at least one selected from a group consisting of an auditory output, a visual output, and a haptic output.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to display the user interface on a portable computing device and to update the user interface based on subsequent data from the data stream as the seed planting machine continues to operate in the field.

15. A method for monitoring seed placement, the method comprising:
receiving a data stream from one or more sensors of a seed planting machine, wherein the data stream is indicative of seed placement in a field by each of a plurality of row units of the seed planting machine;
calculating, based at least in part on the data stream, an average seed placement metric for a defined calculation window for each of the plurality of row units;
displaying a user interface on a display screen, the user interface including a row data table with a plurality of line entries each corresponding to a different one of the plurality of row units, wherein each line entry includes an identification of a row unit corresponding to the line entry and the calculated average seed placement metric for the row unit;
comparing the average seed placement metric for each of the plurality of row units to a performance threshold;
transmitting an error alert signal based on the comparison;
receiving through the user interface, an adjusted calculation window; and
calculating updated average seed placement metrics for the adjusted calculation window; and
updating the row data table and the error alert signal based on the updated calculation.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein calculating the average seed placement metric includes calculating a seed singulation metric indicating a percentage of intended seed placements that includes an individual seed placed by the row unit.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein displaying the user interface including the row data table includes displaying the row data table with the plurality of line entries displayed in order from a lowest seed singulation metric to a highest seed singulation metric.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising displaying a visual indication in the row data table of one or more line entries of the plurality of line entries with a seed singulation metric value that is below the performance threshold.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein updating

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Boaz Robert D
• Shipley Kyle A
• Buse Greg T
• Krumm Kurtis
• Wassilak Erich
• Van Steenhuyse Tyler J
• Dow Benjamin R
• Hixon Kevin

Classifications

• A01B79/005

  Precision agriculture · CPC title

• G06F16/2282

  Tablespace storage structures; Management thereof · CPC title

• G06F16/23

  Updating · CPC title

• A01C7/107

  Calibration of the seed rate · CPC title

• A01C7/105 Primary

  Seed sensors · CPC title