Abstract:In order to test the performance of different types of maize precision seed meters accurately and conveniently, an instrument for testing seed meter’s performance was designed. Utilizing PLC as control component, the instrument can achieve driving seed meter by servo motor, detecting falling seeds by photoelectric seed sensor, setting planting parameters and displaying detection results by touch screen. Besides, under different planting parameters (i.e., seed spacing, planting speed, and number of holes on seed plate), it can real-timely test seed meter’s seeding performance indices, such as quality of feed index, miss index, multiple index and precision index. Meanwhile, the instrument can detect the multiple and miss number of each clip in finger pick-up seed meter and make real-time animation simulation to the dropping situation of seeds. When the quantity of dropping seeds met the number set out, the instrument would stop detecting and save the results automatically. To verify the detection precision of the instrument, a comparison experiment with JPS—12 seed meter detection platform and MeterMax seed meter detector was carried out. Experimental results showed that the instrument and JPS—12 seed meter detection platform’s performance were almost the same at three speeds of 4km/h, 8km/h and 12km/h, and the quality of feed index for testing finger pick-up seed meter was differed by less than 2%. The detection precision of the instrument and MeterMax seed meter detector were much the same at nine speeds from 4km/h to 12km/h, because the results for testing finger pick-up seed meter were differed by less than 2% and the results for testing air-suction seed meter were differed by less than 0.7%. As a consequence, the instrument met requirements for testing seed meter’s performance.