Engineering and Technology Horizons | 2026
Authors: Senpheng M.; Kaewrat S.; Sonasang S.
DOI: 10.55003/ETH.430203
Journal: Engineering and Technology Horizons
Year: 2026
Publisher: King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang
Document Type: Article
Open Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access
Cited by: 0
The objective of this study was to design and develop a pneumatically controlled seed sowing machine for seedling trays in order to reduce labor requirements and improve planting efficiency. The system integrates a pneumatic actuation mechanism with a control system developed using FluidSIM 4.2. The experimental setup utilized seedling trays with dimensions of 34 × 54 cm, while the prototype machine measured 50 × 90 × 60 cm. Five types of seeds—melon, lettuce, kale, chili, and tomato were tested using three nozzle diameters (2.6 mm, 1.34 mm, and 0.83 mm), with planting conditions ranging from one to four seeds per hole. The results indicate that nozzle size significantly affects planting accuracy depending on seed characteristics. Larger and elongated seeds (melon) achieved the highest accuracy with a 2.6 mm nozzle, whereas small and round seeds (kale and lettuce) performed best with a 1.34 mm nozzle. For small and lightweight seeds (chili and tomato), the 0.83 mm nozzle yielded the highest accuracy due to improved suction concentration and stability. Overall, the system achieved a planting accuracy of 96% across 300 experimental trials, with an error rate of 4%. In terms of operational efficiency, the proposed machine can complete seed sowing for a 50-hole tray within approximately 1 minute, compared to approximately 15 minutes required for manual operation. These results demonstrate that the developed system provides a cost-effective and efficient alternative to conventional manual seed planting methods. © 2026, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. All rights reserved.
Automation; FluidSIM; Pneumatic system; Seed sowing machine