Robotic Seeder for Cereals, Legumes and other Crops in Early-stage Breeding Trials

Abstract

The advancement of seeding technologies aimed at improving sowing quality and reducing labor intensity has underscored the need to modernize selective seeders through the robotic integration. (Research purpose) To develop the design and operational algorithm of a robotic seeder for cereals, leguminous, and other crops for early-stage breeding trials, and to substantiate the seed feeding parameters during sowing. (Materials and methods) A seeder schematic was developed in accordance with current regulatory standards, and the structural and technological parameters of seed feeding using a robotic carousel-type cassette loading device were substantiated. (Results and discussion) The study identified key design features of selective seeders intended for early-stage breeding trials, specifically those incorporating a robotic carousel-type cassette loading device. An operational scheme and control algorithm for the seeder were developed, accompanied by formulas for calculating the cassette feed rate in multi-row sowing and the distributor gate opening speed during single-row sowing. A new distributor-type sowing mechanism equipped with a metering gate was proposed. A prototype seeder, SSSR 1, was constructed. Laboratory tests were conducted for six-row sowing of spring wheat, using a 15-centimeter row spacing and 20-centimeter intra-row seed spacing on a 1-meter-wide plot. (Conclusions) At a working speed of 1 kilometer per hour and intra-row seed spacing ranging from 0.1 to 0.3 meters, the cassette feed rate in multi-row sowing ranged from 0.056 to 0.168 meters per second. For single-row sowing, the distributor gate opening speed ranged from 0.028 to 0.084 meters per second. The sowing deviation was 1 percent, and the coefficient of variation for intra-row seed spacing did not exceed 5 percent. The robotic selective seeder ensures controlled sowing quality for cereals and other crops during early-stage breeding trials and seed production. The implementation of the developed seeder creates the prerequisites for increasing productivity and reducing the labor intensity of the core sowing operation.