Design and Development of a Seed Box for a Drone-Based Paddy Seeding System

Abstract

Direct-seeded rice offers a resource-efficient alternative to conventional transplanting by reducing labour and water requirements. Drone-based seeding may further improve the timeliness and accessibility of sowing operations, but its effectiveness depends on a lightweight seed box that provides adequate storage and consistent seed flow. This study was conducted to design and develop a seed box for a drone-based paddy-seeding mechanism. Before the design process, the physical properties of paddy seeds were analysed to obtain the essential parameters required for seed-box development. Experimental investigations were conducted in the Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, College of Agricultural Engineering, UAS, Raichur. The seed-box design was based on the physical properties of the RNR 15048 paddy variety, particularly the bulk density and angle of repose, to ensure smooth seed flow and adequate storage capacity. The seed box was modelled using SOLIDWORKS 2022 computer-aided design software and fabricated using a Creality Ender 3 V3 SE three-dimensional printer with polylactic acid filament. Polylactic acid was selected because of its low weight, adequate strength, biodegradability, and ease of fabrication. The seed box incorporated smooth internal surfaces, a calibrated outlet, and a hopper angle of 35° to facilitate continuous seed flow with minimal clogging. Its total internal volume was 0.00407 m³, providing a storage capacity of approximately 2.10 kg of paddy seed based on an average bulk density of 515 kg m⁻³. The developed seed box was lightweight and structurally stable and was suitable for integration with a drone-based paddy-seeding system. Three-dimensional printing enabled rapid prototyping, cost-effective fabrication, and straightforward design modification for UAV-based agricultural components.