Selective ditcher using a mechanical driller and an infrared electronic beam for sugar cane plantings

Abstract

This paper presents a selective ditcher for sugar cane plantings. The proposed scheme is based on a mechanical driller, which is used to make a ditch where a seed can be planted. An infrared electronic beam is used to detect sugar cane plants, which are remained from the previous crop. The main objective of the proposed implement is to prepare the field to re-populate the current crop and to preserve the existing strain. The driller is based on a commercial and customized mechanical transmission, which is coupled to a tractor's motor using metal chains and gears. The proposed ditcher was mounted in a metallic base, which can be elevated and pulled by a tractor. Infrared beam circuit sends visual and audible warnings to a human operator when a sugar cane plant is detected. Different visual and audible warnings are send to the operator when a sugar cane plants are not detected within a pre-established time window. This circuit uses a 38 kHz carrier signal to reduce a possible false triggering caused by daylight, also the optical detector can discriminates small objects like dead branches and leaves. Diagrams of mechanical parts are shown, and an explanation of the infrared beam operation is presented.