Design and performance evaluation of a solar powered remote controlled robot for precision seed planting.

Abstract

The increasing demand for sustainable agricultural mechanization has accelerated the development of precision and energy-efficient planting systems. This study presents the design, optimization, and performance evaluation of a solar-powered remotely controlled robot for precision seed planting. The robotic platform integrates a photovoltaic energy system, an electric seed-metering mechanism, and an electronically controlled seed-depth adjustment unit to achieve accurate seed placement while minimizing energy consumption. The system was experimentally evaluated at four robot forward speeds (0.42-1.60 km h^-1) and four target seed spacings (10-25 cm). Results showed high seed placement accuracy ranging from 98.08% to 98.80%, while the miss and multiple indices remained below 2% and 2.5%, respectively. Optimal metering performance was obtained at robot speeds of 0.82-1.20 km h^-1. The seed-depth adjustment mechanism exhibited a strong linear relationship between motor rotations and penetration depth (R² = 0.9996), ensuring precise depth control. Energy analysis indicated low power consumption (0.048-0.084 kWh) and a solar power supply ratio (95-167%). These findings demonstrate that integrating solar energy with wirelessly controlled agricultural robotics can improve planting precision while enhancing energy efficiency and environmental sustainability in precision farming systems.