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

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Results and discussion<br />

72<br />

Figure 5.5 Rotary intra-row hoeing concept (1 – hoeing tool, 2-<br />

<strong>system</strong> <strong>for</strong> the hoeing depth adjustment, 3 – <strong>system</strong> <strong>for</strong><br />

the plant detection, 4 – <strong>for</strong>ward speed measurement<br />

unit, 5 – camera <strong>system</strong> <strong>for</strong> row following)<br />

The path from the idea to the final virtual prototype was very similar to the usual<br />

design process. The main difference was an additional step in the design when<br />

the virtual prototype was placed into a virtual environment and rigorously tested.<br />

After a preliminary concept had been sketched out on paper, the component<br />

parts <strong>of</strong> the hoeing tool, carrier and simulation environment were designed. All<br />

parts <strong>of</strong> the final assembly were drawn individually, from wheels to rods and to<br />

even connecting pins and bolts. Defining dimensions <strong>of</strong> all parts required<br />

particular care to provide proper fit <strong>for</strong> all elements into the assembly. This<br />

consideration is exactly the same as would be taken into account when building<br />

a physical prototype.<br />

After all the parts had been individually drawn, they were assembled together.<br />

Rather than having a single master assembly that contains every part, it was<br />

more manageable to devide the entire simulation model into smaller

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