Camera based flow detection
A method for identifying a flow of commodity through a commodity distribution system. The method including providing a tank configured to contain a commodity, selectively distributing commodity from the tank to a drill assembly to be distributed to an underlying surface, and monitoring the flow of commodity from the tank to the drill assembly with a camera to identify flow characteristics.
1 . A method for identifying a flow of commodity through a commodity distribution system, comprising:
providing a tank configured to contain a commodity;
selectively distributing commodity with a meter assembly from the tank to a drill assembly to be distributed to an underlying surface; and
monitoring the flow of commodity from the tank to the drill assembly with a camera to identify flow characteristics while the commodity is being directed to the drill assembly;
wherein the camera is positioned to identify a roller type of the meter assembly.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further wherein the identified flow characteristics comprise a commodity type.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further wherein the flow characteristics comprise identifying a blockage in commodity between the tank and the drill assembly.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further wherein the flow characteristics comprise a roller speed.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further wherein the camera is positioned to identify the flow of commodity after passing through the meter assembly and before a secondary splitter.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further wherein the camera is positioned at the meter assembly to identify the flow of commodity through the meter assembly.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further wherein the flow characteristics comprise identifying the commodity flow rate.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the camera is oriented to provide a viewing angle that provides a view of both a flow path of the commodity and at least a partial view of a roller.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the camera is configured to identify one or more of wear of the roller, rotation speed of the roller, or color of the roller.
10 . An air seeding system, comprising:
a tank configured to at least partially contain a commodity;
a meter assembly configured to selectively distribute commodity from the tank to one or more run;
a drill assembly configured to direct the commodity provided by the one or more run to an underlying surface;
a camera positioned along a flow path between the meter assembly and the drill assembly at a location configured to monitor the flow of commodity from the meter assembly to the drill; and
a controller in communication with the camera;
wherein, the controller analyzes data provided by the camera to determine flow characteristics of commodity along the flow path;
wherein the camera is positioned at a splitter and is configured to observe the flow of commodity into each of a plurality of secondary runs to determine which of the plurality of secondary runs are receiving commodity.
11 . The air seeding system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of secondary runs comprises eight or more secondary runs extending from the splitter and the controller analyzes data provided from the camera to determine flow characteristics to each of the plurality of secondary runs.
12 . The air seeding system of claim 10 , wherein the controller analyzes the data provided by the camera to determine independent flow characteristics of commodity to each of the plurality of secondary runs.
13 . The air seeding system of claim 12 , wherein the controller analyzes data provided by the camera to determine a clog in any one of the plurality of secondary runs.
14 . The air seeding system of claim 10 , wherein each run of the plurality of secondary runs delivers commodity to one of a plurality of ground engaging tools.
15 . The air seeding system of claim 10 , wherein the camera is positioned at a location relative to the splitter to provide image data of an inlet of each of the plurality of secondary runs.
16 . The air seeding system of claim 10 , wherein the camera is configured to provide image data to identify an amount and type of commodity entering each of the plurality of secondary runs.
17 . A method for identifying the flow of commodity through a system, comprising:
providing a fluid path between a tank and a drill;
positioning a camera to view material moving along the fluid path as the material is being directed from the tank to the drill;
communicating image data from the camera to a controller;
analyzing the data with the controller to identify the flow characteristics of commodity moving along the fluid path; and
showing images of the image data on a user interface to be viewed by a user.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising comparing the flow characteristics with a threshold to identify a blockage.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the controller provides a warning when a blockage is identified.
20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the controller is configured to identify a blockage and show a live image of the blockage on the user interface when the blockage is identified.