A novel embedded system for tractor implement performance mapping

Abstract

The agricultural tractor serves as a pivotal power source on the farm. However, the optimal utilization of tractor power has often been hindered by factors such as non-matching implement sizes and suboptimal operating skills, leading to underutilization of power potential across diverse field conditions. In response, a study was initiated to formulate a cost-effective embedded system capable of on-the-go digital display and recording of various field performance parameters, ensuring precision in geographical location tracking. An embedded system, seamlessly incorporating a global positioning system (GPS), was successfully integrated onto an agricultural tractor to facilitate the mapping of tractor-implement performance. The developed embedded system employed Hall effect sensors for measuring theoretical speeds at both tractor rear drive wheels, as well as the actual speed at the tractor front wheel. Additionally, forces at the tractor’s three-point linkages were quantified with the assistance of a three-point hitch dynamometer, and tillage depth at the tractor rockshaft was measured using a rotary potentiometer. The obtained data exhibited exemplary results. This comprehensive and integrated system demonstrated the capability to measure, display and record real-time performance parameters, coupled with their precise geographical locations. The system underwent extensive and successful field demonstrations, particularly in the spatial mapping of tractor-implement field performance, utilizing a mounted offset disk harrow and a rigid tine cultivator.

Keywords:

• Tractor implement performance parameters
• GPS
• transducer
• spatial maps
• precision agriculture

REVIEWING EDITOR:

• D T Pham, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom

SUBJECTS:

• Agricultural Engineering
• Agricultural Development
• Agriculture & Environmental Sciences

Acknowledgments

Authors would like to acknowledge Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering, IIT Kharagpur, for providing the necessary facilities for conducting the research work.

Disclosure statement

The authors affirm that they have no identifiable competing financial interests or personal relationships that might have influenced the work reported in this article.

Authors’ contributions

AK and VKT: conceptualization, visualization and supervision. AK and AC: investigation and writing. AK, CG and PS: methodology. AC, MC and PB: validation. MC and PB: formal analysis. VKT, CG and PS: resources. AK and AC: data curation. AK, AC and VKT: writing, review and editing. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

Data availability statement

The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article; further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

The funding for this research was provided by the Agriculture and Food Engineering Department at Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur), India (Institute ID: IR-O-U-0573).

Notes on contributors

Ajay Kushwah

Ajay Kushwah- Research Scholar

Arjun Chouriya

Arjun Chouriya- Research Scholar

V. K. Tewari

V. K. Tewari- Director, IIT Kharagpur, India

Chanchal Gupta

Chanchal Gupta- Scientist, CSIR-CMERI CoEFM, Ludhiana, India

Manojit Chowdhury

Manojit Chowdhury- Research Scholar

Prateek Shrivastava

Prateek Shrivastava- ICAR-NINFET, Kolkata, India

Preeti Bhagat

Preeti Bhagat- Research Scholar