Crop researchers around the world know that ALMACO has precision you can count on. SeedPro, ALMACO's latest precision plot planter, sets a new standard as the most accurate on the market, providing consistent seed spacing, multi-crop capabilities, and integrated GPS capabilities. Key features of the seed meter include:

• Simplified in-field set-up and operation
• Triple-roller design for precise singulation of ungraded seeds
• Excellent and consistent seed spacing
• Multi-crop capabilities and a wide variety of planting options

The brain of the SeedPro Planter is the SeedPro 360 control system. This control system features a large, sunlight-visible, resistive touch screen display as its user interface. Running Windows XP Embedded, it offers a customizable software interface with simplified set-up and operation. With autonomous control of air pressure, vacuum, and hydraulic drives, this system sets the bar high for precision plot planters.

Requiring a computer that can withstand the stress of in-field use, commercial hauling, and varied climate ranges, the SeedPro 360 planter control system is based on a modular state-of-the-art PC/104 computer system which has high resistance to shock and vibration and is rated for fan-less operation over a wide temperature range. The SeedPro 360 meets all of these goals with a system that delivers the computing power, engineering ease, and low cost required by the industry.

After careful evaluation, ALMACO selected a PC/104 computing solution from Diamond Systems for the SeedPro 360 control system. The computer solution is based on Diamond’s high performance Athena II PC/104 single board computer with on‐board data acquisition circuitry. For additional I/O functionality, Diamond’s configurable GPIO‐MM 48‐line PC/104 digital I/O module was added to the solution along with a third party motion control module. Powering the computer system is Diamond’s Jupiter‐MM PC/104 50W power supply.

ALMACO selected a PC/104 solution for its small, compact size. Diamond Systems’ products were selected for their ruggedness, all having an operating temperature range of -40oC to 85oC, rated for high humidity and having a high tolerance for shock and vibration. Diamond’s products were also very cost competitive and readily available.

The ALMACO SeedPro Precision Planter has been well received in the precision farming marketplace and sales are rising rapidly around the world; another innovative product from a market leader.

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