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

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7 Conclusions<br />

Conclusions<br />

The presented concept <strong>of</strong> the intra-row hoeing <strong>system</strong> can fulfil the<br />

requirements; it has sufficient degrees <strong>of</strong> freedom to allow full adaptation to<br />

different crop species, different plant intra-row distances and plant growth<br />

stages. In combination with an inter-row hoe or installed on an autonomous<br />

vehicle, the developed robotic <strong>system</strong> could be a solution <strong>for</strong> accurate and rapid<br />

<strong>mechanical</strong> <strong>weed</strong> control.<br />

Concept <strong>for</strong> detection <strong>of</strong> the plants centre position developed in this research<br />

needs to be concerned as an interim solution <strong>for</strong> plant detection. However,<br />

results achieved during experiments in laboratory conditions certify about<br />

stabile and accurate detection <strong>of</strong> the plant centre position in real-time<br />

independently from illumination conditions.<br />

Tests and simulations carried out with the virtual prototype have increasingly<br />

facilitated the design process and significantly shortened the path from the idea<br />

to the prototype. Furthermore, the virtual prototype <strong>of</strong> the intra-row hoeing tool<br />

provides an expeditious and accurate procedure <strong>for</strong> determination <strong>of</strong> the optimal<br />

hoeing scenario if the conditions on the field, like the intra-row plant distance,<br />

average growth stage <strong>of</strong> the plants and the size <strong>of</strong> the duckfoot knives, are<br />

known.<br />

Finally, experimental tests conducted with the hoeing tool’s physical prototype<br />

proved the hypothesis that the hoeing <strong>system</strong> based on servo motor in<br />

combination with the detection <strong>of</strong> the plant centre position can provide accurate<br />

intra-row hoeing controlled in real-time.<br />

Further work<br />

The presented methodology <strong>for</strong> detection <strong>of</strong> the single plant centre position is<br />

as mentioned be<strong>for</strong>e only an interim solution. For development <strong>of</strong> this solution<br />

to a higher level, applicable in field conditions, it requires a comprehensive<br />

revision. The main shortage is that the implemented sensors require ad-hoc<br />

parameter adjustment according to the field conditions be<strong>for</strong>e the<br />

measurement, to provide desired plant detection quality. For broad usage <strong>of</strong> a<br />

125

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