Degree Project: Automatic Seed Sowing Agricultural Robotic Machine

Automatic Seed Sowing Agricultural Robotic Machine

                                             ABSTRACT

This presents a system with high speed of operation for an advanced agriculture process which includes cultivation based on robotic platform. The robotic system is an electromechanical and artificial agent which is steered by DC motor which has four wheels. The farm is cultivated by the machine, depending on the crop considering particular rows & specific columns.

The infrared sensor detects the obstacles in the path and it also senses turning position of vehicle at end of land. The seed block can be detected and solved using water pressure. The machine can be controlled remotely and solar panel is used to charge DC battery. Assembly language is used in programming the microcontrollers. The microcontroller is used to control and monitor the process of system motion of vehicle with the help of DC motor. The result of implemented unit is also presented.  Keywords Agriculture Robots, Seed block mechanism, Solar panel, DC motor and Microcontroller [1].

 1.1 Problem Statement:

There are number of techniques for sowing the crops. But these techniques have some disadvantages like: By using manual sowing technique, the required man power is more. Time required is more using manual techniques. Also the sowing is done by using tractor but by using tractor more wastage of seeds occurs. Energy required to complete the work is also very high. By using tractors more pollution occurs such as air pollution. The size and weight of such machinery is high. So such sowing instruments are very expensive.

           1.2 Introduction:

In the current generation most of the countries do not have sufficient skilled man power specifically in agricultural sector and it affects the growth of developing countries. So it’s a time to automate the sector to overcome this problem. In India there are 70% people dependent on agriculture. Innovative idea of our project is to automate the process of sowing crops such as sunflower, baby corn, groundnut and vegetables like beans, lady’s finger, pumpkin and pulses like black gram, green gram etc & to reduce the human effort and increase the yield. The plantation of seeds is automatically done by using DC motor. The distance between the two seeds are controlled and varied by using Microcontroller. It is also possible to cultivate different kinds of seeds with different distance. When the Robot reaches the end of the field we can change the direction with the help of remote switches. The whole process is controlled by Microcontroller [1].

1.4 Methodology:

          The four sensors are used like IR sensor, block sensor, Empty sensor &Proximity sensor.IR  sensor used for detecting the obstacle, Seed block sensor consist two advanced seed plantation machine consists of three storage hopers in which the seeds to be planted are stored. Below the hopers rotary drums are provided. It is having hole throughout. In which LDR type sensor which detects the blockage in cultivation pipe by using nand gate, Proximity sensor i.e. Metal detector detects one complete rotation of tire wheel.

The microcontroller acts as central processing unit of the system. When it receives the start command from the keyboard, then barrier motor starts, the machine starts moving in the forward direction. Near to the tire wheel a proximity sensor is provided. During one complete rotation of the tire, the sensor provides one logic pulse. This logic pulse goes to the switching circuit, then to the microcontroller. It is expected that the rotor will rotate once after receiving one pulse. One seed is dropped that directly goes to ground. Then the soil is spread over the seed so that the seed properly goes below the soil.

Before the seed is dropped proper digging line is also formed with the help of a projection provided. It is a self driven barrier with geared DC motors. The DC voltage is provided to motors. Out of four wheels the two wheels are provided with motor drive and two wheels is driven automatically one more dc motor is provided to rotate the rotary drum. If the front tire complete one cycle, then the drum rotate and plant seed. The operation will be repeated. The number of seeds planted will be shown on LCD display [1].

 

                                                              Fig. Block Diagram of Seed Plantation Machine