09.12.2012 Views

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 ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Table <strong>of</strong> contents<br />

Table <strong>of</strong> contents<br />

Glossary <strong>of</strong> abbreviations and symbols........................................................................ I<br />

1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1<br />

1.1 Consumption <strong>of</strong> chemicals in agriculture............................................................................ 3<br />

1.1.1 Impact <strong>of</strong> pesticide application on groundwater sources ............................................ 6<br />

1.2 Organic farming .................................................................................................................. 7<br />

1.3 Weed management............................................................................................................. 9<br />

1.4 Organic <strong>weed</strong> management.............................................................................................. 10<br />

1.4.1 Indirect <strong>weed</strong> control ................................................................................................. 11<br />

1.4.2 Direct <strong>weed</strong> control.................................................................................................... 14<br />

1.4.3 Inter-row <strong>weed</strong> control............................................................................................... 15<br />

2 State <strong>of</strong> the art ........................................................................................................................ 19<br />

2.1 Intra-row <strong>weed</strong> control ...................................................................................................... 19<br />

2.1.1 Passive tools <strong>for</strong> intra-row <strong>weed</strong> control.................................................................... 19<br />

2.1.2 Active tools <strong>for</strong> intra-row <strong>weed</strong> control ...................................................................... 21<br />

2.2 Detection <strong>of</strong> the plants ...................................................................................................... 26<br />

3 Definition <strong>of</strong> the problem and research objectives ............................................................ 29<br />

3.1 Definition <strong>of</strong> the problem................................................................................................... 29<br />

3.2 Research objectives.......................................................................................................... 31<br />

4 Materials and methods .......................................................................................................... 33<br />

4.1 Detection <strong>of</strong> the single plant position................................................................................ 33<br />

4.1.1 Sensor equipment ..................................................................................................... 33<br />

4.1.1.1 Digital colour sensor........................................................................................... 33<br />

4.1.1.2 Digital laser sensor............................................................................................. 35<br />

4.1.1.3 Forward position detection................................................................................. 37<br />

4.1.1.4 Position sensor with incremental encoder ......................................................... 37<br />

4.1.1.5 Rotary encoder position sensor ......................................................................... 38<br />

4.1.2 Data acquisition ......................................................................................................... 39<br />

4.1.2.1 Hardware............................................................................................................ 39<br />

4.1.2.2 S<strong>of</strong>tware ............................................................................................................. 39<br />

4.1.3 Experimental field ...................................................................................................... 40<br />

4.1.4 Test objects ............................................................................................................... 41<br />

4.1.5 Test <strong>of</strong> the detection <strong>system</strong>’s accuracy ................................................................... 41<br />

4.1.6 Test <strong>of</strong> the detection <strong>system</strong>’s robustness ................................................................ 41<br />

4.2 The use <strong>of</strong> integrated mechanism design and simulation in prototype development....... 42<br />

4.2.1 Introduction to prototypes.......................................................................................... 42<br />

4.2.2 Advantages <strong>of</strong> virtual prototyping .............................................................................. 43<br />

4.2.2.1 Pro/Engineer as a s<strong>of</strong>tware tool......................................................................... 45<br />

4.3 Physical prototype <strong>of</strong> the hoeing tool................................................................................ 48<br />

4.3.1 Selection <strong>of</strong> the drive <strong>for</strong> the hoeing tool................................................................... 48<br />

4.3.1.1 Electrical servo drive .......................................................................................... 48<br />

4.3.1.2 Power transmission............................................................................................ 51<br />

4.3.1.3 Adjustment <strong>of</strong> the parameters <strong>of</strong> the servo drive ............................................... 52

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!