Agriculture

Research

Jump to: Review

22 pages, 5932 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Integration of Mechanical Energy Absorbers into Rollover Protective Structures to Improve the Safety of Agricultural Tractors in the Event of Rollover

by José R. Alfaro-Lopez, Amaya Perez-Ezcurdia, Juan-Ignacio Latorre-Biel, Ignacio Arana-Navarro, Marta Benito-Amurrio and Pedro Villanueva-Roldán

Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1050; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071050 - 29 Jun 2024

Viewed by 570

Abstract

The combination of safety belts and rollover protective structures (ROPSs) is key in improving the safety of agricultural tractors in the event of rollover. However, we also have the opportunity to enhance the security provided by each ROPS; one such example is the [...] Read more.

The combination of safety belts and rollover protective structures (ROPSs) is key in improving the safety of agricultural tractors in the event of rollover. However, we also have the opportunity to enhance the security provided by each ROPS; one such example is the combination of this safety device with adequate mechanical energy absorbers (MEAs). Inexpensive disc-shaped MEAs can be included in the anchoring points of a ROPS onto the chassis of a tractor. Three configurations of ROPS combined with MEAs were tested during the application of loads that simulated the effects of side rollover in the vehicle. The tested configurations included a blank MEA as a reference case alongside a single MEA and a stack assembly containing both elements. The results of the tests show that both the deformation of the ROPS itself and the strain energy are larger in the case of blank MEAs; thus, there is also a risk that the clearance zone will be infringed upon and that the protective structure will collapse. We can conclude that the implementation of an appropriate MEA in ROPS reduces the deformation of the ROPS itself and its strain energy in cases of vehicle rollover; hence, the safety provided by such protection systems may be improved at a low cost. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 2550 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Shear and Bending Mechanical Properties of Millet Stem

by Wei Wang, Zeze Wang, Ben Pan, Qingliang Cui, Lili Zhang, Shujin Qiu and Yanqing Zhang

Agriculture 2024, 14(6), 923; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14060923 - 11 Jun 2024

Viewed by 563

Abstract

To determine the patterns and influencing factors of the mechanical properties of millet stems from different varieties during the maturity period, this study employed a complete block experiment method and conducted shearing and bending tests on millet stems using the INSTRON5544 electronic universal [...] Read more.

To determine the patterns and influencing factors of the mechanical properties of millet stems from different varieties during the maturity period, this study employed a complete block experiment method and conducted shearing and bending tests on millet stems using the INSTRON5544 electronic universal material testing machine. The research investigated the variation in the shear strength, specific shear energy, bending strength, elastic modulus, and bending stiffness at different internode positions of the stems of Changza 466, Zhangza 16, and Jingu 21 during their maturity period. The results indicated that the variety had a significant impact on the mechanical properties of millet stems: from largest to smallest, the order of shear and bending forces was Jingu 21, Zhangza 16, and Changza 466. The shear strength and bending strength of Jingu 21 were the greatest among the three stem samples. The internode position significantly affected the shear mechanical properties of the millet stems, showing a general trend of decreasing shear strength with ascending internode position. The effect of the internode position on the bending stiffness was highly significant, whereas its impact on the bending strength and elastic modulus was not significant. The shear strength of the millet stems ranged from 3.866 ± 1.086 to 6.953 ± 2.208 MPa, significantly lower than the bending strength, which ranged from 18.934 ± 4.374 to 34.286 ± 6.875 MPa. The lowest shear strength and specific shearing energy, recorded at the fifth internode, were 4.028 ± 1.918 MPa and 15.097 ± 12.633 MJ/mm², respectively. Jingu 21 and Changza 466 exhibit better lodging resistance than Zhangza 16. It is recommended to use a cutting-type platform for harvesting millet stems, with the cutting height set at the fifth internode position. This study provides a theoretical basis for the design of millet harvesting machinery and the selection of harvest parameters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 2827 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization Design and Experimentation of a Soil Covering Device for a Tree Planting Machine

by Xun Wu, Zhen Jiang, Lixin Zhang, Xue Hu and Wenchun Li

Agriculture 2024, 14(3), 346; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14030346 - 22 Feb 2024

Viewed by 1083

Abstract

In an effort to improve the soil covering effect of tree planting machines and reduce the lodging rate of seedlings, this paper analyzes the soil covering process and working principle of the soil covering device of tree planting machines and designs a soil [...] Read more.

In an effort to improve the soil covering effect of tree planting machines and reduce the lodging rate of seedlings, this paper analyzes the soil covering process and working principle of the soil covering device of tree planting machines and designs a soil covering device with adjustable soil covering width. With the help of the discrete element simulation software EDEM, the orthogonal test was designed with the width of the covering soil and the inclination angle as the test factors and the soil backfill rate as the response index. The regression analysis of the test results was carried out by Design-expert, and the optimal parameter combination of the covering soil device was determined as follows: the width of the covering soil: 600 mm, the forward angle: 45°, and the depth of the soil: 20 mm. The prototype verification test was carried out under the optimal parameters, and the soil backfill rate was 88.4%, which was basically consistent with the optimized parameters. The soil covering device with adjustable width designed in this study is of great significance to improve the soil covering rate of tree planting machines and reduce the lodging rate of seedlings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 15934 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development and Optimization of an Offset Spiral Tooth Fertilizer Discharge Device

by Longyu Fang, Wenwu Yang, Xiwen Luo, Han Guo, Shiyu Song, Qinghai Liu, Haoyang Xie, Weiman Chen, Jianxin Lu, Zhixiang Peng and Guanjiong Li

Agriculture 2024, 14(2), 329; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14020329 - 19 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1469

Abstract

Due to factors such as a small amount of fertilizer application during rice topdressing and slow machine speed, the ordinary fertilizer discharge device fails to distribute the fertilizer uniformly and accurately as required, making it difficult to meet the needs of precise rice [...] Read more.

Due to factors such as a small amount of fertilizer application during rice topdressing and slow machine speed, the ordinary fertilizer discharge device fails to distribute the fertilizer uniformly and accurately as required, making it difficult to meet the needs of precise rice topdressing. This research focuses on the development of an offset spiral tooth fertilizer discharge device suitable for rice topdressing. The study analyzes the amount of fertilizer discharged in one cycle, the fertilizer force, and the motion of the fertilizer particles. In order to enhance the uniformity of the fertilizer discharge device at a low speed and small volume, the discrete element method is employed to conduct experimental research on the key structural parameters that affect the one-cycle amount of discharged fertilizer and the dynamics of the fertilizer discharge device. Through single-factor tests, it was found that the angle, height, number of spiral teeth, and diameter of the fertilizer discharge wheel are closely associated with the fertilizer discharge performance. To further investigate the impact of these four parameters on the fertilizer discharge performance, a regression combination test of the four factors is conducted based on the range optimized by the single-factor tests. A multi-objective mathematical model, considering the key parameters of fertilizer uniformity coefficient, one-cycle amount of fertilizer, and fertilizer discharge torque, is established at three speeds: 20, 55, and 90 rpm. The response surface method is utilized to analyze the influence of the interaction factors on the fertilizer discharge performance. The optimal combination of the key structural parameters was determined as follows: spiral tooth angle of 35.42°, tooth height of 9.02 mm, discharge wheel diameter of 57.43 mm, and tooth amount of 9.37. The bench test results of the device, using the optimal parameter combination and a fertilizer discharge speed of 0–90 rpm, were obtained for four commonly used rice fertilizers. The maximum variation coefficient of fertilizer discharge was found to be 10.42%. The one-cycle amount of fertilizer discharge was measured to be 19.82 ± 0.72 (A Kang), 17.20 ± 0.69 (Ba Tian), 20.34 ± 0.54 (Yaran), and 14.51 ± 0.44 (granular urea). The fertilizer discharge torque remained stable. These results indicate that the achieved optimization meets the precise fertilizer application requirements and can provide technical support for precise topdressing operations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 4697 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Impact of Cutting Platform Vibration on Stalk Cutting Quality in Industrial Hemp

by Kunpeng Tian, Jicheng Huang, Bin Zhang, Aimin Ji and Zhonghua Xu

Agriculture 2024, 14(2), 321; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14020321 - 18 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 776

Abstract

In response to the unclear impact of header vibration on cutting performance (stalk cutting quality and cutting energy consumption) during field operations of industrial hemp harvesters, this study utilized a vibration recorder to collect information on header vibration during the operation of industrial [...] Read more.

In response to the unclear impact of header vibration on cutting performance (stalk cutting quality and cutting energy consumption) during field operations of industrial hemp harvesters, this study utilized a vibration recorder to collect information on header vibration during the operation of industrial hemp harvesters. Through data processing, the dominant range for the resonant frequency and amplitude of the cutting platform is primarily concentrated between 5–45 Hz and 0–35 mm, respectively. Using numerical simulation techniques, a quadratic orthogonal rotation combination experiment was conducted with vibration frequency and amplitude as experimental factors and stalk cutting quality and cutting energy consumption as indicators. Regression equations were established to reveal the relationships between indicators and factors, elucidating the influence of each factor and its interactions on the indicators. Specifically, for the crack length indicator, the amplitude has a highly significant influence on the model, and there is a significant interaction effect between vibration frequency and amplitude on the model. As for the cutting energy consumption indicator, frequency and the interaction between frequency and amplitude significantly affect the model, while amplitude has an extremely significant impact on the model. Through comprehensive fuzzy evaluation, the optimal vibration parameter combination satisfying comprehensive cutting performance indicators was determined as a vibration frequency of 37.86 Hz and an amplitude of 5.34 mm. Furthermore, the reliability of the model has been further validated. This research can provide a reference for improving the field performance of industrial hemp harvesters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 3692 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of Collision Damage Mechanisms and Reduction Methods for Pod Pepper

by Gaoliang Wang, Binghua He, Dianlei Han, He Zhang, Xinzhong Wang, Yongcheng Chen, Xuegeng Chen, Rongqiang Zhao and Guoyu Li

Agriculture 2024, 14(1), 117; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14010117 - 12 Jan 2024

Viewed by 947

Abstract

This study aims to address the current situation of the late start of mechanized harvesting technology for the pod pepper, the high damage rate of existing pod pepper harvesters, and the lack of theoretical support for key harvesting components. The Hertz theory is [...] Read more.

This study aims to address the current situation of the late start of mechanized harvesting technology for the pod pepper, the high damage rate of existing pod pepper harvesters, and the lack of theoretical support for key harvesting components. The Hertz theory is employed to investigate the damage mechanism of collisions between pod pepper and comb fingers. The study analyzes the maximum deformation of pod pepper and the critical speed at which damage occurs during the collision process. Furthermore, it explores the critical relative speed that leads to damage in pod pepper. Orthogonal tests are conducted to analyze the effects of rotational speed, hose thickness, and moisture content on the efficiency of pod pepper picking. The experimental results are then subjected to multifactorial ANOVA to identify the optimal test parameters. The structural and motion parameters of the picking device are optimized based on these conditions. It is determined that the critical relative velocity for damage to pod pepper during a collision with the comb finger is V₀ = 11.487 m s⁻¹. The collision velocities of pod pepper with different hose thicknesses are analyzed using the i-SPEED TR endoscopic high-speed dynamic analysis system to obtain the corresponding collision velocities for different hose thicknesses. The study finds that rotational speed, hose thickness, and the water content of pod pepper affect the damage rate and stem shedding rate. The optimal experimental parameters are determined to be a rotational speed of 705.04 rpm, hose thickness of 3 mm, and water content of the pepper of 71.27%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 5720 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Study on Impact Friction Damage of Sweet Potato Skin

by Wanzhi Zhang, Yunzhen Qu, Xiubo Yin, Hongjuan Liu, Guizhi Mu and Dengshan Li

Agriculture 2024, 14(1), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14010093 - 3 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1186

Abstract

Sweet potato skin is prone to friction damage during mechanical harvesting. To reveal the friction damage mechanism of sweet potato skin, the impact friction process between a sweet potato and a rod was theoretically analyzed. The main factors affecting the impact friction force [...] Read more.

Sweet potato skin is prone to friction damage during mechanical harvesting. To reveal the friction damage mechanism of sweet potato skin, the impact friction process between a sweet potato and a rod was theoretically analyzed. The main factors affecting the impact friction force of the sweet potato skin include the sweet potato mass, drop height, distance from the center of the pendulum to the impact center of the sweet potato, maximum elastic displacement of the sweet potato, collision contact time, curvature radius of the sweet potato collision surface, material and roughness of the collision contact surface, etc. The mass, drop height, rod direction, rod state, and rod material of the sweet potato were used as the test factors, and the critical damage acceleration of the sweet potato skin was used as the test evaluation index. The results showed that the friction force caused by the collision between the sweet potato skin and rod increased with the increase in the sweet potato mass. The minimum friction is 3.5 N. The critical damage acceleration of the sweet potato skin decreased with the increase in the sweet potato mass, and the drop height had no significant effect on the critical damage acceleration of the sweet potato skin. Compared with the vertical placement, the critical damage acceleration of the sweet potato skin was smaller when the rod was placed horizontally, and the damage was more likely to occur. Under the same conditions, the critical damage acceleration of the sweet potato skin when the rod is rolling is greater than that when the rod is fixed. The critical damage acceleration of the impact friction between the sweet potato and 65Mn rod is the smallest, and the critical damage acceleration of the impact friction with the 65Mn–leather rod is the largest. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 10486 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Method and Mechanism of Seedling Picking for Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Plug Seedlings

by Maile Zhou, Hao Sun, Xin Xu, Jiajia Yang, Guibin Wang, Zhaoxiang Wei, Tingbo Xu and Jianjun Yin

Agriculture 2024, 14(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14010011 - 21 Dec 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1161

Abstract

To better meet the requirements of mechanized transplanting of pepper plug seedlings, this study explores the seedling picking mechanism of a fully automatic pepper transplanting machine. It introduces a novel “eagle beak” type trajectory for seedling picking and designs a probe-type mechanism for [...] Read more.

To better meet the requirements of mechanized transplanting of pepper plug seedlings, this study explores the seedling picking mechanism of a fully automatic pepper transplanting machine. It introduces a novel “eagle beak” type trajectory for seedling picking and designs a probe-type mechanism for pepper plug seedling retrieval. We establish a kinematic theoretical model and delineate the composition and operational principles of this probe-type mechanism. Additionally, we develop an auxiliary optimization software tailored based on Visual Basic 6.0 visual programming software for this mechanism. It employs a blend of manual fine-tuning and a “parameter guidance” optimization algorithm, enabling the determination of 11 optimal target parameters. Our comparative analysis between the theoretical model, optimization software, and high-speed camera experiments reveals a strong correlation in the motion trajectories, and the maximum error of the pose angle is 1.2°. To validate the mechanism’s design, we conducted a seedling retrieval experiment. In this test, the success rates of the seedling harvesting mechanism at speeds of 30, 40, and 50 r/min were 96.4%, 94.3%, and 91.4%, respectively, thus demonstrating its practical feasibility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 8213 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of a Real-Time Tractor Model for Gear Shift Performance Verification

by Gyuha Han, Da-Vin Ahn, Doyeop Kwon, Heung-Sub Kim, Young-Jun Park and Jin Woong Lee

Agriculture 2023, 13(11), 2133; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13112133 - 12 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1096

Abstract

Verification of the system is essential during the development of a tractor; however, there are cost and time limitations when verification is performed on an actual tractor. To solve this problem, we developed a tractor model for real-time simulation to verify the gear [...] Read more.

Verification of the system is essential during the development of a tractor; however, there are cost and time limitations when verification is performed on an actual tractor. To solve this problem, we developed a tractor model for real-time simulation to verify the gear shift performance of the tractor and evaluate the control algorithm. This study examined and modeled a dual-clutch transmission (DCT)-type 105 kW class tractor. The proportional control valve, synchronizer, and clutch were modeled to accurately implement the shift behavior, and the developed individual model was verified based on actual individual product test data. The 45 s driving simulation was conducted to confirm whether real-time simulation of the entire developed tractor model was possible and whether it simulated the behavior of the target tractor well. The driving simulation results confirmed that the driving speed of the tractor model matched the engine speed, transmission gear ratio, and tractor specifications, and the gear shift performance of the tractor model according to the number of gears was confirmed. The simulated model thus satisfies the characteristics of the target tractor and can be used to verify the gear shift performance, indicating that the model can verify the performance of the control algorithm in real time. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

28 pages, 6948 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design and Experiment of Greenhouse Self-Balancing Mobile Robot Based on PR Joint Sensor

by Yaohui Zhang, Yugang Song, Fanggang Lu, Dongxing Zhang, Li Yang, Tao Cui, Xiantao He and Kailiang Zhang

Agriculture 2023, 13(10), 2040; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13102040 - 23 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1638

Abstract

To avoid issues such as the greenhouse working robot’s inability to perform normal tasks or reduced working accuracy due to the influence of uneven ground, this study designed a set of greenhouse self-balancing mobile robots. The self-balancing mobile robot system designed in this [...] Read more.

To avoid issues such as the greenhouse working robot’s inability to perform normal tasks or reduced working accuracy due to the influence of uneven ground, this study designed a set of greenhouse self-balancing mobile robots. The self-balancing mobile robot system designed in this study uses a quadruped mobile robot as a carrier, equipped with a three-degrees-of-freedom wheel-leg structure and is complemented with a posture control algorithm. The algorithm calculates the adjustment of each leg based on the vehicle’s tilt angle and wheel-ground pressure, achieving control over the robot’s posture angle, the center of gravity height, wheel-ground contact force, and other functions. To address the issue of over-constrained (weak legs) posture adjustment during mobile robot fieldwork, a flexible joint sensor based on the PR structure has been designed and developed. After field testing, it was verified that the greenhouse self-balancing mobile robot proposed in this study can adapt well to field environments, such as climbing hills, overcoming obstacles, crossing furrows, and so on. The response speed of the flexible joint sensor can meet the requirements of self-balancing while effectively solving the problem of weak legs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 4666 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization and Accuracy Analysis of a Soil–Planter Model during the Sowing Period of Wheat after a Rice Stubble Based Discrete Element Method

by Weiwen Luo, Xulei Chen, Kai Guo, Mingyang Qin, Feng Wu, Fengwei Gu and Zhichao Hu

Agriculture 2023, 13(10), 2036; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13102036 - 23 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1311

Abstract

The soil during the sowing period of wheat after rice stubble cannot be accurately described by existing models and parameters with DEM because of its high moisture content and strong viscosity. The purpose of this study is to conduct an overall simulation of [...] Read more.

The soil during the sowing period of wheat after rice stubble cannot be accurately described by existing models and parameters with DEM because of its high moisture content and strong viscosity. The purpose of this study is to conduct an overall simulation of high-viscosity paddy soil and to analyze the accuracy of the model. Based on the results of an unconfined compression test and shear test, the range of bond parameters is preliminarily determined by a simulation test. Through the P-BD test and RSM test, the parameters with significant influence are determined to be normal stiffness per unit area (S_N), shear stiffness per unit area (S_S), and critical shear stress (C_S), and an optimized combination of these parameters is obtained. Based on the optimized model, the error range and error generation mechanism of the model are analyzed under different operating parameters. The results show that the optimal parameter combination is S_N of 1.07 × 10⁷ N/m³, S_S of 0.70 × 10⁷ N/m³, and C_S of 0.35 × 10⁵ Pa, corresponding to a compression force of 120.1 N and a shear force of 7.70 N. With an increase in forward speed or seeding quantity or a decrease in rotary plowing speed, the model accuracy tends to increase, and the range of relative errors was found to be from 8.8% to 28.4%. The results can provide a research basis for the study of the motion state of seeds under soil. It can also further enrich parameter data of soil discrete element simulation models and provide a reference for related research studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 7725 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design and Experimental Investigation of a Transplanting Mechanism for Super Rice Pot Seedlings

by Maile Zhou, Zhaoxiang Wei, Zeliang Wang, Hao Sun, Guibin Wang and Jianjun Yin

Agriculture 2023, 13(10), 1920; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13101920 - 30 Sep 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1330

Abstract

Super rice contains a variety of advantageous characteristics. However, current rice seedling transplanting machines fail to achieve the necessary trajectory and distance required for super rice mechanized transplanting. To address this issue, this study introduces a differential-speed rotary mechanism for transplanting super rice [...] Read more.

Super rice contains a variety of advantageous characteristics. However, current rice seedling transplanting machines fail to achieve the necessary trajectory and distance required for super rice mechanized transplanting. To address this issue, this study introduces a differential-speed rotary mechanism for transplanting super rice pot seedlings. The developed mechanism operates using a non-uniform speed differential gear train, which enables the transplanting arm components to mimic the specific trajectory and posture necessary for transplanting super rice pot seedlings. The kinematic model of the differential-speed rotary super rice pot seedling transplanting mechanism (PSTM) was established, and optimization design software was developed. This software facilitated the determination of a set of mechanism parameters optimized for super rice pot seedling transplantation. The results obtained from virtual simulations were found to be in alignment with those from the optimization software, thereby verifying the accuracy of the theoretical analysis and simulation. A testing bench for the rice PSTM was also developed and used for pot seedling pickup experiments. The bench tests demonstrated that the designed super rice PSTM yielded a seedling pickup success rate of 97% and a seedling injury rate of 1.8% when operating at an efficiency of 200 times/min. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 9759 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design and Test of a Tractor Electro-Hydraulic-Suspension Tillage-Depth and Loading-Control System Test Bench

by Xiaoxu Sun, Yue Song, Yunfei Wang, Jin Qian, Zhixiong Lu and Tao Wang

Agriculture 2023, 13(10), 1884; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13101884 - 27 Sep 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1649

Abstract

Electro-hydraulic suspension systems are one of the key working systems of tractors. Due to the complex and changeable working conditions in the field, it is of great significance to shorten the development cycle of the control strategy and reduce the development cost by [...] Read more.

Electro-hydraulic suspension systems are one of the key working systems of tractors. Due to the complex and changeable working conditions in the field, it is of great significance to shorten the development cycle of the control strategy and reduce the development cost by using the indoor bench for test verification at the beginning of the study. Based on this, this paper has proposed a complete set of tractor hydraulic-suspension tillage-depth and loading-control test-bench designs. The system was mainly composed of three parts: an industrial computer, a suspension electro-hydraulic control system, and a loading electro-hydraulic control and data-acquisition system. The human–computer interaction interface of the test-bench measurement and control system was built, and the loading-force control system and suspension tillage-depth and loading integrated-control system were built based on PID and fuzzy PID control algorithms, respectively. The system can realize the control of suspension tillage depth and loading during the operation process and has the functions of the real-time acquisition, display, and data storage of related sensor signals during the working process. The test results showed that the response time of the loading-control system was less than 1.2 s, and the maximum steady-state error was less than 0.8%. The response time of the suspension control system was less than 2.3 s, and the maximum steady-state error was less than 1%. The system has good responsiveness and stability. These research results can provide platform and method of support for the development and test of tractor electro-hydraulic suspension systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 4705 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Differential Steering Dynamics Control of Four-Wheel Independent Drive Electric Tractor

by Yuhui An, Lin Wang, Xiaoting Deng, Hao Chen, Zhixiong Lu and Tao Wang

Agriculture 2023, 13(9), 1758; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13091758 - 4 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1643

Abstract

Traditional tractors can only achieve steering through mechanical structures such as steering knuckles and steering trapezoids. Among them, the mechanical structure is more complex, and various parts are easily damaged, making the tractor malfunction. The four-wheel independent drive differential steering mode differs from [...] Read more.

Traditional tractors can only achieve steering through mechanical structures such as steering knuckles and steering trapezoids. Among them, the mechanical structure is more complex, and various parts are easily damaged, making the tractor malfunction. The four-wheel independent drive differential steering mode differs from the traditional Ackermann steering mode, which realizes steering by controlling the inner and outer wheel torque, which can accurately steer the working state of high-end agricultural machinery equipment and improve the operating efficiency of agricultural machinery equipment. Aiming at the dynamic control problem in the steering of electric tractor four-wheel independent drive, a layered control strategy based on the sliding mode control of yaw torque at the upper level and the optimal torque distribution level based on the mean load rate of vehicle tires at the lower was proposed. By analyzing the differential steering mechanism of a four-wheel independent drive, a dynamic model of differential steering of the electric tractor is established, and a dynamic controller of a four-wheel independent drive is designed according to the layered control strategy. The upper controller tracks and controls the expected yaw speed on the basis of the sliding mode control to track the driver’s intention, and the lower controller realizes the optimal torque distribution based on the principle of the optimal average load rate of the vehicle tire to ensure the steering stability of the electric tractor. The effect of the controller was simulated and analyzed under typical conditions of double line shift, serpentine, and step. The results showed that the sliding mode controller is better than the PID controller in driver intention tracking. Compared with the average allocation strategy, the average maximum load rate of the vehicle tire under the three working conditions is reduced by 16.9%, 13.8%, and 17.3%, respectively, which proves the effectiveness of the layered control strategy. In the real car test, the sliding mode controller is better than the PID controller in the driver intention tracking. This study has important guiding significance for improving the maneuverability and stability of electric tractors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 6302 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Results of Experimental Studies of the Physical and Mechanical Properties of an Elastic-Plastic Material for Tribological Properties during Separation

by Alexey Dorokhov, Otari Didmanidze, Alexander Aksenov, Alexey Sibirev, Maxim Mosyakov, Nikolay Sazonov and Maria Godyaeva

Agriculture 2023, 13(9), 1735; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13091735 - 1 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1085

Abstract

The obtained results of experimental studies on the influence of the physical and mechanical properties of an elastoplastic material (clods of soil and potato tubers) on the factors of its destruction when interacting with an absolutely solid body (separating working body) established that [...] Read more.

The obtained results of experimental studies on the influence of the physical and mechanical properties of an elastoplastic material (clods of soil and potato tubers) on the factors of its destruction when interacting with an absolutely solid body (separating working body) established that an increase in the density of a soil clod leads to an increase in the effort expended on dynamic destruction, regardless of the size fraction. Within one fractional group, the increase in force from the minimum value necessary for the destruction of the soil clod in the density range from 1300 to 1700 kg/m³ is on average 56–67 N. However, there is a tendency to increase the effort to destroy the soil clod with an increase in the size fraction, including identical density, by 7–8 N, which is 4–5% of the initial value of the destruction force of a given density. The greatest destruction of soil clods is provided at a moisture content of 22–24%, which should be explained by the formation of the physical ripeness of the leached chernozem. In addition, a decrease in soil moisture leads to a more intense adhesion of soil particles to each other and, consequently, to an increase in the force on the soil clod to destroy it. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 11658 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design and Experiment of Sweet Potato Ridging and Forming Machine

by Xinyu Chen, Mingdong Chen, Mengmeng Liu, Yang Li, Deqiu Yang and Haihua Wu

Agriculture 2023, 13(8), 1641; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13081641 - 21 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1584

Abstract

To address the problem of poor ridging effect, a sweet potato ridging and shaping machine was designed and its overall structure and working principles were described. The design parameters of rotary tillage device, furrowing and shaping device and pressing and shaping device were [...] Read more.

To address the problem of poor ridging effect, a sweet potato ridging and shaping machine was designed and its overall structure and working principles were described. The design parameters of rotary tillage device, furrowing and shaping device and pressing and shaping device were determined. The motion model of soil particles on the furrowing and shaping device was analyzed, the force model of the furrowing and shaping device was established. A response surface Box–Behnken Design test was carried out to obtain the better working parameters of the sweet potato ridging and shaping machine as follows: the embedded depth is 196 mm, the forward speed is 0.82 m/s, and the soil moisture is 18%. At this time the stability coefficient of the ridge height was 99.84%. The comparative test showed that the operation performance and fuel consumption of the ridge shaping machine were better than 1GQL-2 sweet potato two rows rotary plowing and ridging machine, which met the agronomic requirements and created a good soil environment for sweet potato. The research can provide a design reference for the development and application of sweet potato transplanting machinery and ridging machinery in hilly areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 3502 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design and Test of a Low-Loss Soybean Header Based on Synchronous Profiling

by Junshan Nie, Huizhong Luo, Yang Zhou, Qiqiang Li, Qingyu Qiu and Lihua Zhang

Agriculture 2023, 13(8), 1580; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13081580 - 8 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1190

Abstract

A synchronous-profiling, low-position-cutting, flexible-reel-belt-conveyor, low-loss soybean header was designed to address the problems of a lack of soybean harvesting machines supporting soybean-corn strip intercropping, the few existing soybean headers, and the high loss rate of soybean headers. By establishing a dynamic model of [...] Read more.

A synchronous-profiling, low-position-cutting, flexible-reel-belt-conveyor, low-loss soybean header was designed to address the problems of a lack of soybean harvesting machines supporting soybean-corn strip intercropping, the few existing soybean headers, and the high loss rate of soybean headers. By establishing a dynamic model of the synchronous-profiling cutting device, the key structure and operation parameters that affect the performance of synchronous profiling were determined, while the key parameters of the flexible-reel-belt conveyor device were determined by theoretical analysis. Based on ADAMS rigid-flexible coupling, simulation analysis was conducted on the working process of the synchronous-profiling cutting device, verifying that the profiling cutting device can effectively control the height of the cutter off the ground with undulating ground and that the cutting device can accurately and quickly respond to ground excitation, meeting the requirements of synchronous-profiling, low-position cutting. Field tests showed that the loss rate and stubble height of the soybean headers are 1.34% and 70.36 mm, respectively, which are 55% and 22.7% lower than the existing reel-type rigid soybean headers, meeting the actual production requirements. This study can provide a reference for the structural design of soybean harvesting headers and the reduction of header losses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 3813 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Development and Experimental Validation of an Agricultural Robotic Platform with High Traction and Low Compaction

by David Reiser, Galibjon M. Sharipov, Gero Hubel, Volker Nannen and Hans W. Griepentrog

Agriculture 2023, 13(8), 1510; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13081510 - 28 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1298

Abstract

Some researchers expect that future agriculture will be automated by swarms of small machines. However, small and light robots have some disadvantages. They have problems generating interaction forces high enough to modify the environment (lift a stone, cultivate the soil, or transport high [...] Read more.

Some researchers expect that future agriculture will be automated by swarms of small machines. However, small and light robots have some disadvantages. They have problems generating interaction forces high enough to modify the environment (lift a stone, cultivate the soil, or transport high loads). Additionally, they have limited range and terrain mobility. One option to change this paradigm is to use spikes instead of wheels, which enter the soil to create traction. This allows high interaction forces with the soil, and the process is not limited by the weight of the vehicle. We designed a prototype for mechanical soil cultivation and weeding in agricultural fields and evaluated its efficiency. A static and dynamic test was performed to compare the energy input of the electrical motor with precise measurements of the forces on the attached tool. The results indicate that the prototype can create interaction forces of up to 2082 N with a robot weight of 90 kg. A net traction ratio of 2.31 was reached. The dynamic performance experiment generated pull forces of up to 1335 N for a sustained net traction ratio of 1.48. The overall energy efficiency ratio for the machine reached values of up to 0.54 based on the created draft force and the measured input energy consumption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 8644 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Simulation Research on Cotton Stalk Cutting and Crushing Based on ANSYS/LS-DYNA and Field Experiments

by Peng Wang, Xuegeng Chen and Haojun Wen

Agriculture 2023, 13(6), 1268; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061268 - 19 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1725

Abstract

In order to solve the problem of high straw content in recovered residual film and the low rate of qualified straw crushing in combination with a front-mounted cotton-straw-crushing device, the cutting and crushing mechanisms of cotton stalks were studied based on ANSYS/LS-DYNA. The [...] Read more.

In order to solve the problem of high straw content in recovered residual film and the low rate of qualified straw crushing in combination with a front-mounted cotton-straw-crushing device, the cutting and crushing mechanisms of cotton stalks were studied based on ANSYS/LS-DYNA. The height h and dip angle α of the fixed blade were determined to be 30 mm and 75° through a finite element analysis. On the basis of the device design, explicit dynamic models of the cutting and crushing of a single cotton stalk were established based on ANSYS/LS-DYNA. The results of the dynamic analysis revealed the cutting mechanism of the cotton stalk, and the influences of the cutting edge angle γ and front baffle height h₁ on cotton stalk cutting were studied by using single-factor simulation tests. An edge angle of γ = 45° and a height of h₁ = 265 mm were determined. Meanwhile, the mechanism of cotton straw crushing was revealed, and the motion states of the straw were studied at different times. The results of the simulation experiments on the influence of the cutter shaft’s rotational speed showed that with an increase in the cutter shaft’s speed, the rate of qualified crushing and the removal rate were both increased. At the design speed of n = 1800 RPM, the rate of qualified crushing was 84.6%, and the removal rate was 95.1%. Then, field experiments were carried out. The test results were as follows: the stubble height was 8.0 cm, the rate of qualified straw crushing was 91.8%, the clearance rate of film-surface impurities was 92.3%, and the film content was 3.6%, which met the working quality requirements (not less than 85%) of NYT 500-2015: “Operating quality for straw-smashing machines”. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 3692 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design of a Small-Scale Hydroponic System for Indoor Farming of Leafy Vegetables

by Neiko V. Nikolov, Atanas Z. Atanasov, Boris I. Evstatiev, Valentin N. Vladut and Sorin-Stefan Biris

Agriculture 2023, 13(6), 1191; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061191 - 3 Jun 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 12643

Abstract

The reduction of the population and labour force in rural areas, adverse climate changes, soil pollution and degradation, and reduced soil fertility necessitate new and intensive approaches to and methods of vegetable production. In this study, a new high-tech, small-scale hydroponic system based [...] Read more.

The reduction of the population and labour force in rural areas, adverse climate changes, soil pollution and degradation, and reduced soil fertility necessitate new and intensive approaches to and methods of vegetable production. In this study, a new high-tech, small-scale hydroponic system based on the Internet of Things (IoT) for growing leafy vegetables was designed. For the assembly of the high-tech small-scale hydroponic system, low-cost materials and sensors are used, allowing remote monitoring and process automation during the cultivation of leafy vegetables and seedlings. Experimental investigations of the installation were conducted, with lettuce as the grown crop. The environmental and technological parameters of the system were monitored and analysed in order to assess the suitability of the system. The obtained results confirm that the small-scale hydroponic system maintained the set parameters of air temperature, air humidity and pH of the nutrient solution within the optimal limits for growing lettuce. Other parameters, such as temperature and electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution, had small deviations from the required optimal limits. In the initially set experiment, 75% germination of the lettuce seeds was achieved. The main advantages of the proposed hydroponic system are the simplicity of its management and easy installation. Furthermore, it offers the possibility for remote monitoring and control without any high requirements towards the experience of the user with such facilities. The designed and implemented small hydroponic system can help small and medium-sized vegetable growers achieve indoor sustainable farming of leafy vegetables year-round. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 5592 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design and Experiment of Lightweight Dual-Mode Automatic Variable-Rate Fertilization Device and Control System

by Qiuwei Bai, Hongpin Luo, Xinglan Fu, Xin Zhang and Guanglin Li

Agriculture 2023, 13(6), 1138; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061138 - 29 May 2023

Viewed by 1496

Abstract

China’s agricultural facilities are developing rapidly and are mainly operated through household contracting. Due to a lack of suitable variable-rate fertilization devices, manual and blind fertilization still widely exists, resulting in fertilizer waste and environmental pollution. Meanwhile, existing fertilization devices cannot simultaneously meet [...] Read more.

China’s agricultural facilities are developing rapidly and are mainly operated through household contracting. Due to a lack of suitable variable-rate fertilization devices, manual and blind fertilization still widely exists, resulting in fertilizer waste and environmental pollution. Meanwhile, existing fertilization devices cannot simultaneously meet the needs of different fertilization methods for crop cultivation, increasing the cost of mechanized fertilization. This study developed a lightweight dual-mode automatic variable-rate fertilization device and control system for strip fertilization and spreading fertilization. The least squares method was used to analyze the amount of fertilizer discharged per second at different volumes and rotational speeds of the fertilization device. The quadratic polynomial model fits well, with determination coefficients greater than 0.99. The automatic variable strip fertilization and spreading fertilization control models were established. Experiments with strip fertilization and spreading fertilization were carried out. The results of strip fertilization experiments show that the maximum relative error (

R e

) for granular nitrogen fertilizer (NF) was 6.81%, compound fertilizer (CF) was 6.2%, organic compound fertilizer (OCF) was 6.83%, and the maximum coefficient of variation (

C v

) of uniformity was 8.91%. The results of spreading fertilization experiments show that the maximum

R e

of granular NF was 7.31%, granular CF was 6.76%, granular OCF was 7.43%, the

C v

of lateral uniformity was 9.88%, and the

C v

of total uniformity was 14.17%. The developed fertilization device and control system can meet the needs of different fertilization amounts, types, and methods for facility crop cultivation at different stages. This study’s results can provide a theoretical basis and technical support for designing and optimizing multifunctional precision variable-rate fertilization devices and control systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 7316 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Double Disc Colter for a Zero-Till Seeder Simultaneously Applying Granular Fertilizers and Wheat Seeds

by Adilet Sugirbay, Kaiyuan Zhao, Guangyao Liu, Guangrui Hu, Jun Chen, Zhasulan Mustafin, Ruslan Iskakov, Nurbol Kakabayev, Marat Muratkhan, Valery Khan, Yu Chen and Shuo Zhang

Agriculture 2023, 13(5), 1102; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13051102 - 22 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2334

Abstract

The application method of granular fertilizers and wheat seeds depends on the colter design and parameters. In this research, a new double disc colter is studied to apply the wheat seeds to the horizontal band 12 cm in width and apply granular fertilizers [...] Read more.

The application method of granular fertilizers and wheat seeds depends on the colter design and parameters. In this research, a new double disc colter is studied to apply the wheat seeds to the horizontal band 12 cm in width and apply granular fertilizers deeper 2 cm than the wheat seed level precisely to the middle of the band. Applying granular fertilizers and wheat seeds at different levels increases the granular fertilizer dose without harm to the wheat seeds. Furthermore, applying high doses of wheat seeds to the horizontal band decreases the competition between the seeds and suppresses the weeds. Therefore, preparing a plain seedbed after applying the fertilizers and distributing wheat seeds to the horizontal band was the research objective. The comparison experiments of the base and designed double disc colters were provided in the soil bin determining the horizontal and vertical forces and the placement of the fertilizers and seeds. The discrete element method (DEM) was used to track the soil particle behavior interacting with the double-disc colter. The simulation results and actual experiment results were satisfactory when the AB length of the wing orifice was 60 mm. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 6641 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design and Test of Dislocation Baffle Roller Bionic Picking Device for Fresh Corn

by Huizhong Luo, Junshan Nie and Lihua Zhang

Agriculture 2023, 13(5), 991; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13050991 - 29 Apr 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1879

Abstract

Considering the problems of the low mechanical work rate and the high picking damage rate of baffle roller bionic picking devices in the harvesting process of fresh corn in China, a method of fresh corn harvesting based on dislocation baffle roller bionic picking [...] Read more.

Considering the problems of the low mechanical work rate and the high picking damage rate of baffle roller bionic picking devices in the harvesting process of fresh corn in China, a method of fresh corn harvesting based on dislocation baffle roller bionic picking is proposed. When the picking device is in operation, the dislocation baffle roller assists with picking by applying deflecting torque to the corn cob. The mechanical properties of the bottom kernel were significantly better than those of the top kernel, according to the results of a triaxial compression test on fresh corn kernels, and the force applied by the picking device from the bottom kernel’s side could successfully prevent cob breakage. To determine the optimal combination of operating parameters for the bionic picking device, a three-factor, three-level virtual response surface optimization test was conducted using Box–Behnken’s central combination method with the baffle roller tilt angle, the baffle roller gap, and the stalk speed as the test factors, and the maximum contact force as the test indexes. Based on the theoretical analysis results, a test bench of the dislocation baffle roller bionic picking device was made. When the picking damage rate was 0.32%, the baffle roller dislocation was 5 mm, the baffle roller tilt angle was 41°, the baffle roller gap was 25 mm, and the stalk speed was 338 mm/s. This study can provide a reference for researching low-damage picking of fresh corn cob. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 7823 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design and Test of an Automatic Navigation Fruit-Picking Platform

by Shaojiong Huang, Kaoxin Pan, Sibo Wang, Ying Zhu, Qing Zhang, Xin Su and Hongjun Yu

Agriculture 2023, 13(4), 882; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13040882 - 17 Apr 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2572

Abstract

With the development in agricultural mechanization and information technology, orchard agricultural machinery is also constantly pursuing the goal of intelligence and efficiency. Fruit picking is the most labor-intensive part of the orchard harvesting process. In order to resolve the problems of high labor [...] Read more.

With the development in agricultural mechanization and information technology, orchard agricultural machinery is also constantly pursuing the goal of intelligence and efficiency. Fruit picking is the most labor-intensive part of the orchard harvesting process. In order to resolve the problems of high labor intensity, low picking efficiency, and labor shortage when harvesting dwarf high-density orchards, an automatic navigation fruit-picking platform with voice control was developed in the present study. First, the platform utilized a voice-controlled high-level extendable working platform and a fruit-box-lifting device to adapt to varying orchard planting row spacing and enable convenient fruit box loading and unloading. Second, an automatic navigation system, which employed China’s Beidou navigation satellite system to acquire positional data and the Stanley algorithm for path-tracking control, was implemented. Third, the fruit-picking platform with automatic navigation system was fabricated and assembled, its outer wheel steering was measured to have a maximum angle of 30.3° and an average minimum turning radius of 4.5 m, meeting the turning radius requirements under orchard conditions. Finally, automatic navigation tests of the developed platform were performed in the orchard conditions. The results indicated that the platform could maintain a straight-line path with a maximum lateral deviation of 101.5 mm and a maximum absolute average deviation of 44.1 mm at 0.4 m/s. Under the U-shaped paths, the measured maximum lateral deviation was 148.6 mm and the maximum absolute average deviation was 57.2 mm. The navigation accuracy was sufficient to meet the requirements for the harvesting platform’s routine operation in the orchards. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 4396 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design and Experimentation of a Longitudinal Axial Flow Sunflower Oil Threshing Device

by Wei Liu, Lina Ma, Wangyuan Zong, Jinyi Liu, Mao Li and Guodang Lian

Agriculture 2023, 13(4), 876; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13040876 - 15 Apr 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1748

Abstract

To address the problems of threshing loss and high impurity rate during sunflower oil harvesting, a vertical axial flow sunflower oil threshing device was designed. To reduce severe breakage of the sunflower plate and high entrainment loss rate when threshing by the traditional [...] Read more.

To address the problems of threshing loss and high impurity rate during sunflower oil harvesting, a vertical axial flow sunflower oil threshing device was designed. To reduce severe breakage of the sunflower plate and high entrainment loss rate when threshing by the traditional grating gravure sieve, a circular tube-type gravure screen was designed, and a contact model describing the grain rod, sunflower pan, and gravure screen was analyzed. The results show that reducing the diameter of the gravure screen round tubes can effectively reduce breakage of the sunflower pan. The range of the threshing gap, drum speed, and feed amount were determined by a single-factor test. Design-Expert software was used to design a response surface experiment: threshing gap, drum rotation speed, and feed amount were used as test factors, and the threshing loss rate of grains and the grain mass ratio of undersize grains were used as evaluation indicators. A regression model between test factors and evaluation indexes was established by variance analysis of the test results. A software-based numerical optimization function was used to reduce the loss rate of grains and increase the grain mass ratio of undersize grains. The optimal parameters of the threshing device were obtained by multi-objective optimization of all factors: the separation gap was 24.90 mm, drum speed was 244.14 r/min, feed amount was 2.95 kg/s, the threshing loss rate grains was 2.35%, and the grain mass ratio of undersized grains was 81.34%. This study can provide a reference for the design of a combined sunflower oil harvester threshing device. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 5265 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design and Test of Soil–Fertilizer Collision Mixing and Mulching Device for Manure Deep Application Machine

by Yang Niu, Jiyuan Zhang, Jiangtao Qi, Hewei Meng, Huijie Peng and Jiahao Li

Agriculture 2023, 13(3), 709; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13030709 - 18 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2564

Abstract

Aiming at the problems of low uniformity and utilization rate in the traditional deep application method of orchard manure, a soil–fertilizer collision mixing and mulching device was designed. The ditching mechanism, the structure of the soil divider, and the fertilizer delivery auger were [...] Read more.

Aiming at the problems of low uniformity and utilization rate in the traditional deep application method of orchard manure, a soil–fertilizer collision mixing and mulching device was designed. The ditching mechanism, the structure of the soil divider, and the fertilizer delivery auger were analyzed and designed. Furthermore, with the rotational speed of the cutter and auger and the deflection angle of the soil divider as factors, as well as the uniformity of soil–fertilizer mixing and mulching as evaluation indexes, the discrete element simulation tests were conducted. The simulation results showed that when the turret speed, the stirrer speed and the soil separator deflection angle were 140 r/min, 146 r/min and 22°, the mixing uniformity and mulching uniformity were the highest, which was 88.35% and 96.86%, respectively. Based on the optimal parameters, the field test was conducted, and the soil–fertilizer mixing uniformity was 87.02%, with a relative error of 1.33% compared with the simulation test results. The relative error of 94.37% of mulch uniformity is 2.49%, which indicates that the simulation optimization results are reliable and the mixing performance of the device is good and can meet the requirements of soil–fertilizer mixing operation. The results of this study can provide an important reference for the design of the soil and fertilizer mixing machine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 5526 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design and Operation Parameters of Vibrating Harvester for Coffea arabica L.

by Yingjie Yu, Ying Cao, Qinghui Lai, Qinghui Zhao, Zhexing Sun, Shengwu Zhou and Dake Song

Agriculture 2023, 13(3), 700; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13030700 - 17 Mar 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2212

Abstract

This study designed a handheld vibrating coffee harvester to improve the mechanized harvesting of Coffea arabica L. The proposed device was used to vibrate branches of Coffea arabica L. trees, and the shedding of coffee fruit and the operation parameters of vibrational harvesting [...] Read more.

This study designed a handheld vibrating coffee harvester to improve the mechanized harvesting of Coffea arabica L. The proposed device was used to vibrate branches of Coffea arabica L. trees, and the shedding of coffee fruit and the operation parameters of vibrational harvesting were analyzed. Images captured using high-speed photography were used to derive a force equation that represents the forced vibration of the coffee fruit-stalk joint. In addition, the vibrations of coffee berries and branches were theoretically analyzed, and the results were used to establish a dynamic vibration model of coffee trees. The shedding of coffee berries was primarily affected by the vibration frequency, vibration amplitude, and excitation position, which were simulated using a rigid–flexible branch-machine coupling model on RecurDyn software. Furthermore, field experiments were conducted to determine the optimal working parameters for coffee harvesting using vibrations. The results indicated optimal picking performance when the vibration frequency, vibration amplitude, and excitation position were 62 Hz, 9 mm, and 0.4 L, respectively. The harvesting rates of ripe and unripe coffee were 92.22% and 8.33%, respectively, and the damage rate was 5.23%. Thus, the proposed harvester can satisfactorily achieve the optimal harvesting of Coffea arabica L. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

19 pages, 4189 KiB

Open AccessReview

Review of Energy-Efficient Embedded System Acceleration of Convolution Neural Networks for Organic Weeding Robots

by Vitali Czymmek, Carolin Köhn, Leif Ole Harders and Stephan Hussmann

Agriculture 2023, 13(11), 2103; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13112103 - 6 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1705

Abstract

The sustainable cultivation of organic vegetables and the associated problem of weed control has been a current research topic for some time. Despite this, the use of chemical and synthetic pesticides increases every year. This is to be solved with the help of [...] Read more.

The sustainable cultivation of organic vegetables and the associated problem of weed control has been a current research topic for some time. Despite this, the use of chemical and synthetic pesticides increases every year. This is to be solved with the help of an automated robot system. The current version of the weeding robot uses GPUs to execute the inference phase. This requires a lot of energy for an 8-track robot. To enable autonomous solar operation, the system must be made more energy efficient. This work aims to evaluate possible approaches and the current state of research on implementing convolution neural networks on low power embedded systems. In the course of the work, the technical feasibility for the implementation of CNNs in FPGAs was examined, in particular, following the example of a feasibility analysis. This paper shows that the acceleration of convolution neural networks using FPGAs is technically feasible for use as detection hardware in the weeding robot. With the help of the current state of research and the existing literature, the optimization possibilities of the hardware and software have been evaluated. The trials of different networks on different hardware accelerators with diverse approaches were investigated and compared. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Agricultural Machinery Design and Agricultural Engineering

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (28 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI