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Development of a novel mechatronic system for mechanical weed ...

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5.3.5 Test bench <strong>for</strong> evaluation <strong>of</strong> the intra-row hoeing<br />

tool<br />

Results and discussion<br />

After the engine <strong>for</strong> the hoeing tool was chosen and the controlling algorithm<br />

was elaborated, a test bench which allows evaluation <strong>of</strong> the prototype <strong>for</strong> intra-<br />

row <strong>weed</strong> control was built. A movable carrier <strong>for</strong> the servo <strong>system</strong> with<br />

attached hoeing tool was constructed over the soil box described in Chapter<br />

4.1.3. The carrier was designed with requirement to allow adjustment <strong>of</strong> the<br />

hoeing <strong>system</strong> vertically and horizontally. Vertical adjustment <strong>of</strong> the carrier<br />

allows testing <strong>of</strong> different arm lengths and hoeing depths, while horizontal<br />

adjustment makes possible cultivation <strong>of</strong> several parallel plant rows. The design<br />

<strong>of</strong> the carrier is presented in the Figure 5.23.<br />

Figure 5.23 Carrier vehicle <strong>of</strong> the hoeing tool (1 – carrier <strong>of</strong> the servo<br />

motor allowing vertical V and horizontal H adjustment <strong>of</strong><br />

the hoeing tool in relation to the soil box)<br />

The carrier vehicle was attached with steel ropes (8) through a driving pulley (6)<br />

to an electro motor (5) providing its <strong>for</strong>ward-backward positioning over the soil<br />

box (1) (see Figure 5.24). The transmission between the motor and the pulley<br />

allowed continuous change <strong>of</strong> the speed and thus the <strong>for</strong>ward speed <strong>of</strong> the<br />

carrier was adjustable in range 0.1 – 0.4 m/s. The maximal <strong>for</strong>ward speed <strong>for</strong><br />

the hoeing <strong>system</strong> with three arms and hoeing strategy when one full rotation<br />

99

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