Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES-TARIM BILIMLERI DERGISI, cilt.17, sa.1, ss.24-33, 2011 (SCI-Expanded)
In this work, a PIC controlled adjustment system was developed and modeled to keep the field sprayer booms parallel to the field ground during field operations. The mechatronic system is composed of mechanic, hydraulic, electronic and programming parts. The mechanic, hydraulic, and electronic parts of the system were designed and simulated by using computer software programs. To test the system, a field sprayer was considered as a basic oscillatory working agricultural machine to which it is very important to keep the sprayer boom parallel to the ground. A special prototype sprayer boom with two sections (left and right) each with a 5 m width was designed and manufactured. The boom sections on the sprayer were controlled using an electro-hydraulic system. The control of the boom height was based on two ultrasonic height measurement sensors mounted at the end of boom sections. The field experiments were conducted at three different fields (stubble field, harrowed field, clover field), three different speeds (3.5 km h(-1), 4.5 km h(-1), 6.0 km h(-1)) and three different heights (60 cm, 80 cm, 100 cm). The results of the experiments indicated that the system was affected by the field conditions and speed variations. The minimum differences between the measured boom heights and the entered set values were observed when the system was operated at 6 km h(-1) on stubble and harrowed field and 3.5 km h(-1) on clover field. Under the test conditions used for the experiments in this study, the developed system controlled the two boom sections separately at the desired heights. Although the system controlled the boom sections separately, control of both sections showed similar characteristics. The developed system, under the test conditions, kept the booms at desired heights dynamically during the field operations.