PLANTING MACHINE

Abstract

A planting machine (1) for plants (2), such as seedlings (2), said planting machine (1) being provided for arranging plants (2) in a field (5) in such a way that, after being arranged in the field (5), the plants (2) comprise an above-ground portion (3) that extends above ground and an underground portion (4) that extends underground, said planting machine (1) comprising a detection system for detecting the plants (2) after the plants (2) have been arranged in the field, said detection system comprising at least one measuring instrument (6) for detecting said above-ground portions (3) of the plants, and a method for mapping the position of plants (2) in a field (5).

Claims

1. Planting machine for arranging plants, such as seedlings, in a field in such a way that, after being arranged in the field, the plants comprise an above-ground portion that extends above ground and an underground portion that extends underground, said planting machine comprising a detection system for detecting the plants after the plants have been arranged in the field, said detection system comprising at least one measuring instrument for detecting said above-ground portions of the plants, and the planting machine comprising or being capable of coupling to an electronic device, such as a central processing unit, the detection system being provided for sending signals to the electronic device according to the detection of said above-ground portions of the plants and the electronic device being provided for processing said signals, wherein the electronic device is provided for mapping the position of the plants in the field and this at least based on the signals coming from the detection system.

2. Planting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one measuring instrument comprises a sensor for measuring one or more biophysical properties of said above-ground portions of the plants.

3. Planting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the planting machine comprises a GNSS system for correlating the signals coming from the detection system with the GNSS location.

4. Planting machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the GNSS system is provided for sending signals to the electronic device and in that the electronic device is provided for mapping the position of the plants in the field on the signals coming from the GNSS system and the signals coming from the detection system.

5. Planting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the planting machine comprises a planting device for physically arranging the plants in the field and in that the electronic device is provided for contributing to the control of the planting device.

6. Planting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the planting machine comprises a treatment system for treating the plants that are arranged in the field by the planting machine and in that the electronic device is provided for controlling this treatment system and this at least based on the signals coming from the detection system.

7. Planting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one measuring instrument comprises an optical sensor, such as a camera.

8. Planting machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the optical sensor is provided for detecting the position of a central part of said above-ground portions.

9. Planting machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the optical sensor is provided for detecting the height of said above-ground portions.

10. Planting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the planting machine is provided for moving in a direction of travel while arranging the plants in the field and in that the planting machine comprises a planting device that is provided for physically arranging the plants in the field, the measuring instrument extending behind the planting device as seen in the direction of travel.

11. Planting machine according to claim 10, characterized in that the planting machine comprises one or more furrow openers for towing one or more furrows and in that the planting device is provided for arranging plants in the one or more furrows and in that the planting machine comprises one or more furrow closers for closing the one or more furrows again after the plants have been arranged in the one or more furrows and in that the measuring instrument extends behind the one or more furrow closers as seen in the direction of travel.

12. Planting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the detection system comprises at least two of said measuring instruments for detecting said above-ground portions of the plants.

13. Planting machine according to claim 12, characterized in that the planting machine is provided for moving in a direction of travel while arranging the plants in the field and in that said at least two measuring instruments extend at a distance from each other as seen in said direction of travel.

14. Planting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the planting machine comprises a detection system for detecting properties of the field.

15. Planting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the planting machine comprises a detection system for detecting the plants prior to or while arranging the plants.

16. Method for mapping the position of plants in a field, characterized in that the plants, such as seedlings, are arranged in the field with the aid of a planting machine according to claim 1, and while the plants are being arranged in the field, the position of the plants in the field is mapped according to the detection of said above-ground portions of the plants by the respective detection system.

Description

[0032] In this detailed description, reference signs are used to refer to the enclosed drawings, in which

[0033] FIG. 1 is a simplified representation of a planting machine according to the invention while arranging seedlings in a field.

[0034] FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a planting machine (1) according to the invention in a simplified manner while said planting machine is arranging plants (2), in this case seedlings (2), in a field (5).

[0035] Said planting machine (1) is provided for arranging plants (2), in this case seedlings (2), in a field (5). In this case, said seedlings (2) are formed by arranging a seed in a clod and allowing said seed to germinate into a seedling. In this case, the planting machine (1) is provided to arrange the seedlings (2) in such a way that the clod extends virtually all the way under the ground surface of the field (5) and a portion of the seedling extends above the ground surface of the field (5). After the seedlings (2) are arranged in the field (5), the seedlings (2) therefore always comprise an above-ground portion (3) that extends above ground and an underground portion (4) that extends underground.

[0036] The planting machine (1) comprises a first detection system for detecting the plants (2) after the plants (2) have been arranged in the field (5), said first detection system comprising an optical camera (6) for detecting said above-ground portions (3) of the plants (2). Said optical camera (6) is capable of detecting where the above-ground portion (3) is located but is also capable of detecting the height, the color, the number of leaves, the central stem of the seedlings (2), etc.

[0037] Furthermore, the planting machine (1) comprises an electronic device, the first detection system being provided for sending signals to the electronic device according to the detection of said above-ground portions (3) of the plants (2). The planting machine (1) also comprises a GPS system with which the GPS location of the optical camera (6) can be measured, and the GPS system is provided for sending signals to the electronic device according to the GPS location of the optical camera (6). The electronic device is provided for processing all of said signals and is thus capable of mapping the position of good plants (2) in the field (5). The above-ground portions (3) having a different color, a low height, too few leaves, etc. are not mapped because the probability of said seedling (2) growing into plants (2) that are suitable for harvesting is low.

[0038] The planting machine (1) further comprises a planting device (7) for physically arranging the plants (2) in the field (5). The planting machine (1) also comprises a furrow opener (8) for opening a furrow, and the planting device (7) is provided for arranging the seedlings (2) in said formed furrow. Furthermore, the planting machine (1) comprises a furrow closer (9) for closing the furrow again after the seedlings (2) have been arranged in the furrow. While the seedlings (2) are being arranged in a row, the planting machine (1) moves in a direction of travel (A). The optical camera (6) is located behind the furrow closer (9) as seen in the direction of travel (A). This is also easily visible in FIG. 1. The optical camera (6) is connected to the rear of the chassis of the planting machine (1) in such a way that the optical camera (6) extends at a certain distance from the chassis as seen in the direction of travel (A). As a result of this, there is a lot of light exposure at the level of the optical camera (6) such that said optical camera is well able to detect the above-ground portion (3).

[0039] The planting machine (1) additionally comprises a second detection system for detecting the plants (2) while the plants (2) are being arranged in the field (5) by the planting device (7). Said second detection system comprises an optical camera (10).

[0040] With the aid of said planting machine (1), the position of the good seedlings (2) in the field (5) is already mapped while the seedlings (2) are being planted in the field (5) by the planting machine (1). This information can be passed on to other agricultural machines, such as machines for hoeing, irrigating plants (2), fertilizing plants (2), harvesting plants (2), etc.