Main Sector of relevance\IRC classification 5. Electronics, IT and Telecommunication


5.17 Mechatronic system of noncontact surface contour following by remote metering of mobile machine end-effector position and reduction of its slipping

Developers’ contact information

1) State Scientific Institution “Joint Institute of Mechanical Engineering of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus”
12, Akademicheskaya Str., Minsk 220072
Tel/fax: +375 (17) 210-07-49; Web-site: http://oim.by

Evgeniy Yakovlevich Strok
Tel.: +375 (17) 284-03-69

2) State Unitary Enterprise “Plant Izmeritel”
166, Molodezhnaya Str., Novopolotsk, Vitebsk region 211440

Alexandr Illarionovich Kluyev
Tel.: +375 (02145) 746-55

Summary

It is necessary to carry out agricolous operations accurately (precisely) to enhance the performance index of agricultural industry. Therefore the control elements of hydraulic drives must provide quite fast response on input signals. High-speed mechatronic units meet these requirements. They were manufactured using modern electrohydraulic and electronics techniques that make it possible to carry out highly reliable control over hydraulic drive actuators upon absence of hydrodynamic drag force and dry friction as well as temperature variations and pollution density of the operating fluid.
The draft control system oriented for carrying out of inferential control over tilling depth of pickup plow actuating elements pickup plow does not provide qualitative accomplishment of tillage operations for multiple-furrow semi mounted plows. It makes sense to use depth contour control in order to solve the problem as it makes it possible to measure the depth of tillage directly at front housing zones. Moreover actuating elements shall be kept above the surface at the specified level without a mechanical contact in order to enhance reliability. For implementation of this function it is necessary to automatically determine the distance to surface and carry out fast response control over the hookup. Therefore it is necessary to create new advanced control systems in order to provide competitiveness of the tractors. These systems shall make it possible to raise technical and engineering and ergonomic characteristics of machine-tractor unit upon meeting agrotechnical requirements.

Description

The qualitative maintenance of tilling selected depth upon the use of long semi-integral plows is an unsolved problem. Therefore it is offered to provide tilling even depth across the width of coverage by means of automatic control over front housing plow position by the remedial action of tractor hookup. In this case signals coming from ultrasonic sensor of depth tilling direct determination.
The increase in the overall performance of energy machine upon exact contour following of the surface by actuating elements can be achieved by its slipping decrease that can be expressed as the difference between theoretical and actual velocity of its moving over the surface. For determination of the theoretical velocity, it is offered to use discrete inductive sensor of element transmission revs revolutions; but actual velocity is effectually measured by radar or global positioning system.
The mechatronic system of noncontact surface contour following includes remote metering sensor of end-effector positions, units for measuring of theoretical and actual velocity of the machine, electro hydraulic distributor of hookup hydraulic power cylinder, microprocessor controller, operating console with the indication of soil operating depth soil as well as a connector cable.

Technology type

Technical advantages and economic benefits

This system makes it possible to enhance the level of quality of tilling operations for plowing units using semi-integral plows with simultaneous fuel cost cutting. This will lead to soil fertility preservation and increase in agricultural productivity due to exact maintenance of selected tilling depth.
The scientific meaning of this development consists in original algorithmic software that makes it possible to get high dynamic qualities of activation of hydraulic drive executive mechanisms as well as in explanation and determination of mechanical specifications of mechatronic system components of noncontact surface contour following using computer representation of dynamic and experimental-statistical models. Moreover metrical and driving stages are worked out using newest automation and electrohydraulicequipment.
The specified approach will make it possible to create a mechatronic system of noncontact surface contour following surface for mobile machine what will let come to a new technical level per constructive and operational characteristics.

Technology differentiation and uniqueness

Context in which technology was identified

Technological keywords

Electro hydraulic distributor, microprocessor controller, ultrasonic range sensor, depth control.

Development Stage

Intellectual property rights

Range of applications

Tractor industry.

Classifier Used at the EU Innovation Relay Centres

Preferable Regions

Practical experience

Environmental impact

None.

Type of collaboration sought

Terms and restrictions

Available technical assistance