Air flow calibration system for an agricultural system

An agricultural system, comprising:

• an air source configured to output an air flow;
• a primary line extending from the air source;
• a metering system configured to meter agricultural product into the primary line;
• and
• an air flow calibration system, comprising:
• a first sensor configured to output a first plurality of sensor signals indicative of a plurality of upstream air pressures, wherein the first sensor is fluidly coupled to the primary line at an upstream location between the metering system and a row unit;
• a second sensor configured to output a second plurality of sensor signals indicative of a plurality of downstream air pressures, wherein the second sensor is fluidly coupled to the primary line at a downstream location between the metering system and the row unit, and the downstream location is downstream from the upstream location;
• and
• a controller comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to the first sensor and to the second sensor, and the controller is configured to:
• receive the first plurality of sensor signals;
• receive the second plurality of sensor signals;
• iteratively determine a variance delta based on the first plurality of sensor signals and the second plurality of sensor signals, compare the variance delta to a threshold value,
• and output a first output signal indicative of instructions to decrease an air flow rate by a first amount, until the variance delta is greater than the threshold value;
• iteratively output a second output signal indicative of instructions to increase the air flow rate by a second amount, determine the variance delta, and compare the variance delta to the threshold value, until the variance delta is less than or equal to the threshold value;
• and
• in response to determining the variance delta is less than or equal to the threshold value, determine an impending plugging condition is terminated, and store a calibration value corresponding to an air flow rate,
• wherein the second amount is less than the first amount.

A method, comprising:

• receiving, via a controller comprising a memory and a processor, a first plurality of sensor signals indicative of a plurality of upstream air pressures at an upstream location of a primary line between a metering system and a row unit;
• receiving, via the controller, a second plurality of sensor signals indicative of a plurality of downstream air pressures at a downstream location of the primary line between the metering system and the row unit, wherein the downstream location is downstream from the upstream location;
• iteratively determining, via the controller, a variance delta based on the plurality of upstream pressures and the plurality of downstream pressures, and comparing the variance delta to a threshold value,
• outputting, via the controller, a first output signal indicative of instructions to decrease an air flow rate by a first amount, until the variance delta is greater than the threshold value;
• iteratively outputting, via the controller, a second output signal indicative of instructions to increase the air flow rate by a second amount, determining the variance delta, and comparing the variance delta to the threshold value, until the variance delta is less than or equal to the threshold value;
• determining, via the controller, an impending plugging condition is terminated and storing, via the controller, a calibration value corresponding to an air flow rate, in response to determining the variance delta is less than or equal to the threshold value,
• wherein the second amount is less than the first amount.