The present thesis describes the development of a prototype for a precision seeding unit which allows an accurate seed placement and documentation to be used in mobile agricultural robot systems. The high soil compaction and energy required for standard farming processes as well as better agricultural monitoring and documentation motivated the Bachelor's thesis, on which this manuscript is based on. The first part of the thesis comprises an overview of state of the art corn cultivation and seeding techniques. In order to gain fundamental knowledge about the mechanical parameters for different soil conditions, several field tests have been conducted. Based on these results various concepts were evaluated. Due to lower energy demand a discontinuous method for inserting the grains into the ground was selected ("punch seeding"). The main objective was to identify the optimum seeding mechanism for grain insertion utilizing a minimum amount of sensors and electric actuators. The solution to this problem was a sophisticated mechanical design. Several gear units were reviewed and compared to each other in order to find the ideal compromise between simplicity, energy requirements, and robustness. Taking these and further requirements into account, the final concept was derived and the mechanical parts were designed. The specific features of each mechanical part as well as the overall function are described in detail. Four field tests consisting of general functions tests, precision tests and seeding tests demonstrated the limits and potentials of the designed concept. As conclusion, an outlook is given for further research including propositions on design modifications and improvements based on the experiences acquired through the assembly and operation of the seeding unit. [1]
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