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