Development of a multi-adaptive feeding device for automated plug seedling transplanter

Yuanyuan Shao,Guantao Xuan,Gongpu Wang,Zhichao Hu,Xiang Han,Chong Gao,Yi Liu

doi:10.25165/j.ijabe.20211402.6003

Abstract

In order to improve the adaptability of the seedling feeding devices to different plug trays for various seedlings, a multi-adaptive plug seedling feeding device for automatic field transplantation was developed. Its efficiency and adaptability have been improved using a seedling delivery device equipped with a row of end-effectors, which were provided with continuous plug seedlings by a compact seedling tray conveyor carrying out a reciprocating action. Each operation for the seedling feeding device could work automatically through a control system. Three categories of plug seedlings, cucumber, pepper and tomato seedlings, were tested. The results of the performance test for the prototype demonstrated that the best performance emerged in the cucumber seedlings in 50-cell trays with the highest success rate of 88% at the feeding frequency of 6 groups/min. The lowest success rate was 73.33% for the tomato seedlings in 105-cell trays at the feeding frequency of 12 groups/min. It can be concluded that the automated feeding device developed in this study could be used for various plug seedlings as a result of its strong adaptability. Keywords: plug seedling, automated feeding device, vegetable transplanting, control system DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20211402.6003 Citation: Shao Y Y, Han X, Xuan G T, Liu Y, Gao C, Wang G P, et al. Development of a multi-adaptive feeding device for automated plug seedling transplanter. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2021; 14(2): 91–96.

Highlights

Plug seedling for transplantation is an effective planting method widely used in vegetable production to promote crop growth and increase vegetable yield[1,2]
W is for the success rate, which referred to the seedlings picked up and dropped in the chain cups without damage, there were three “failed attempts” considered in the process of feeding seedlings (Figure 12), i.e. rate of missing seedling W1, rate of stuck seedling W2 and rate of injured seedling W3
Integrated control system was constructed for each operation of the seedling feeding device on the basis of control sequence and motion planning, and the corresponding control program was designed to make all units work together

Summary

Introduction

Plug seedling for transplantation is an effective planting method widely used in vegetable production to promote crop growth and increase vegetable yield[1,2]. Plug seedling transplanting depends extensively on manual labor with high labor intensity and low production efficiency. Even though plug seedlings can be planted using a semi-automatic transplanter, while other operations including seedling pick-up and dropping seedling are still performed manually, which results in low transplanting speed and high labor cost[5,6,7]. It is necessary to develop an automated feeding device for the transplanter with high efficiency, low dependence on labor and low cost. Ting et al.[10,11] incorporated a sliding-needle sensor gripper into the robot for picking up the seedlings with different shapes and sizes, which was not popularized due to complicated structure and low efficiency. Italian Ferrari Company developed a full-automatic transplanter to fulfill all the operations including seedling pick-up, delivery, separation and planting. Hd144 type automatic transplanter in Australia and another automatic transplanter manufactured by Pearson Company in the UK are complicated and giant, these were incapable of coping with the small and scattered planting conditions in China[13,14]

Methods

Results

Conclusion