Look-ahead calibration and out-of-calibration detection or response for sectional control technology of an air seeding apparatus

A system for look-ahead calibration of a stored sectional control algorithm for an air seeding apparatus comprising at least one metering device for dispensing particulate material from a container through an associated distribution path to at least one associated flow sensor, the system comprising:

• a processor operatively connected to the metering device and the flow sensor;
• and
• a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a set of instructions executable by the processor to implement a method comprising the steps of:
• (a) controlling the metering device to start dispensing particulate material through the distribution path;
• (b) measuring an elapsed engage time from step (a) until the flow sensor starts detecting particulate material flow above a starting threshold flow value;
• (c) controlling the metering device to cease dispensing particulate material through the distribution path;
• (d) measuring an elapsed disengage time from step (c) until the flow sensor starts detecting particulate material flow below a stopping threshold flow value;
• and
• (e) modifying the stored sectional control algorithm based on the engaged time and the disengage time.

A computer program product for look-ahead calibration of a stored sectional control algorithm for an air seeding apparatus comprising at least one metering device for dispensing particulate material from a container through an associated distribution path to at least one associated flow sensor, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a set of instructions executable by a processor operatively connected to the metering device and the flow sensor to implement a method comprising the steps of:

• (a) controlling the metering device to start dispensing particulate material through the distribution path;
• (b) measuring an elapsed engage time from step (a) until the flow sensor starts detecting particulate material flow above a starting threshold flow value;
• (c) controlling the metering device to cease dispensing particulate material through the distribution path;
• (d) measuring an elapsed disengage time from step (c) until the flow sensor starts detecting particulate material flow below a stopping threshold flow value;
• and
• (e) modifying the stored sectional control algorithm based on the engaged time and the disengage time.

A method for detecting or responding to out-of-calibration operation of an air seeding apparatus comprising a metering device for dispensing particulate material from a container through an associated distribution path to a flow sensor;

• wherein the metering device is controlled by a stored sectional control algorithm defined by either:
• (i) a stored engage time indicative of expected travel time for particulate material through the distribution path after engaging the metering device;
• or
• (ii) a stored disengage time indicative of expected travel time for particulate material through the distribution path after disengaging the metering device;
• wherein the method is implemented by a processor operatively connected to the metering device and the flow sensor, the method comprising the steps of:
• (a) either:
• (i) measuring an elapsed engage time from when the sectional control algorithm engages the metering device to start dispensing particulate material through the distribution path until the flow sensor detects particulate material flow above a starting threshold flow value;
• or
• (ii) measuring an elapsed disengage time from when the sectional control algorithm disengages the metering device to cease dispensing particulate material through the distribution path until the flow sensor detects particulate material flow below a stopping threshold flow value;
• (b) taking a related action if either:
• (i) the stored engage time and the elapsed engage time deviate from each other by more than a first threshold deviation value;
• or
• (ii) the stored disengage time and the elapsed disengage time deviate from each other by more than a second threshold deviation value;
• wherein the related action comprises one or a combination of:
• (iii) generating a visible alert on a display screen;
• and
• (iv) varying a speed of a fan for creating air flow through the distribution path.

A system for detecting or responding to out-of-calibration operation of an air seeding apparatus comprising a metering device for dispensing particulate material from a container through an associated distribution path to a flow sensor;

• wherein the metering device is controlled by a stored sectional control algorithm defined by either:
• (i) a stored engage time indicative of expected travel time for particulate material through the distribution path after engaging the metering device;
• or
• (ii) a stored disengage time indicative of expected travel time for particulate material through the distribution path after disengaging the metering device;
• the system comprising:
• a processor operatively connected to the metering device and the flow sensor;
• and
• a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a set of instructions executable by the processor to implement a method comprising the steps of:
• (a) either:
• (i) measuring an elapsed engage time from when the sectional control algorithm engages the metering device to start dispensing particulate material through the distribution path until the flow sensor detects particulate material flow above a starting threshold flow value;
• or
• (ii) measuring an elapsed disengage time from when the sectional control algorithm disengages the metering device to cease dispensing particulate material through the distribution path until the flow sensor detects particulate material flow below a stopping threshold flow value;
• (b) taking a related action if either:
• (i) the stored engage time and the elapsed engage time deviate from each other by more than a first threshold deviation value;
• or
• (ii) the stored disengage time and the elapsed disengage time deviate from each other by more than a second threshold deviation value;
• wherein the related action comprises one or a combination of:
• (iii) generating a visible alert on a display screen;
• and
• (iv) varying a speed of a fan for creating air flow through the distribution path.

A computer program product for detecting or responding to out-of-calibration operation of an air seeding apparatus comprising a metering device for dispensing particulate material from a container through an associated distribution path to a flow sensor,

• wherein the metering device is controlled by a stored sectional control algorithm defined by either:
• (i) a stored engage time indicative of expected travel time for particulate material through the distribution path after engaging the metering device;
• or
• (ii) a stored disengage time indicative of expected travel time for particulate material through the distribution path after disengaging the metering device;
• the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a set of instructions executable by a processor operatively connected to the metering device and the flow sensor to implement a method comprising the steps of:
• (a) either:
• (i) measuring an elapsed engage time from when the sectional control algorithm engages the metering device to start dispensing particulate material through the distribution path until the flow sensor detects particulate material flow above a starting threshold flow value;
• or
• (ii) measuring an elapsed disengage time from when the sectional control algorithm disengages the metering device to cease dispensing particulate material through the distribution path until the flow sensor detects particulate material flow below a stopping threshold flow value;
• (b) taking a related action if either:
• (i) the stored engage time and the elapsed engage time deviate from each other by more than a first threshold deviation value;
• or
• (ii) the stored disengage time and the elapsed disengage time deviate from each other by more than a second threshold deviation value;
• wherein the related action comprises one or a combination of:
• (iii) generating a visible alert on a display screen;
• and
• (iv) varying a speed of a fan for creating air flow through the distribution path.