International Scientific Journals
of Scientific Technical Union of Mechanical Engineering "Industry 4.0"

The aim of the paper was to test of the concept of the navigation system for the autonomous robot for sowing and wide row planting. Autonomous work of the robot in the field of traction and agronomic processes is implemented based on data from many sensors (cameras, position sensors, distance sensors, and others). The robot is intended for ecologic cultivation requiring mechanical removal of weeds or in crops with application of selective liquid agrochemicals limited to the minimum. The use of a vision system, based on the map coordinates of the position of the sown seeds, allows for their care on an early stage of plant development. Main sensor system is based on a specialized GPS receiver and inertial navigation providing position information with an accuracy of around 10 mm. To determine the angular acceleration the IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) is used. Additionally, information from the acceleration sensors and wheel encoders is used for navigation purposes. This system is used to: control the speed of the robot, keep the robot on the designated path, and detect the precise position of the seeds. The exact information of the seeds position is used to build maps of seeds, which will be used as supporting information for precision weeding, and to control the position of and operation of key components. The front camera view is used to increase positioning accuracy of the robot. It will allow corrections of the robot path regarding the rows of plants. The vision system is also used for detection of non-moving objects. A structure of requirements for the SQL database has been developed, which is used to store plant and weed geo-data, as well as store data about plants and weeds, based on images recorded by the vision system.

The paper presents an overview of the solutions used in modern machines for the production of haylage such as round balers and balers. Discussed elements of systems enabling monitoring the process of bales formation and influencing its course, to improve the quality of obtained silage and increase the efficiency and ergonomics of the machine’s operation. Trends of development and reasons for increasing functional integration into single machines were determined. The paper was created as a result of cooperation between ŁUKASIEWICZ Research Network – Industrial Institute of Agricultural Engineering and METAL-FACH sp. z o.o. company located in Sokółka, Poland.

In Industrial Institute of Agriculture Engineering (Poznań, Poland), together with the Institute of Vehicle of Warsaw Technical University and firm Promar Poznań action have been taken to design autonomous field robot for sowing and cultivation of crops. Designed robot is to be autonomous device. It will automatically perform the sowing, weeding and selective spraying plant crops such as sugar beet or maize. The robot will work in various terrain and weather conditions. It will move on the dirt roads and on cultivated fields, and therefore it will have to overcome mud, sand, puddles and avoid obstacles such as ruts, bumps in the road and stones. The achievement of this objective required the development of a suitable chassis, system of autonomous control in terms of driving and realization of agronomic processes.

The aim of the paper was to test of the concept of the navigation system for the autonomous robot for sowing and wide row planting. Autonomous work of the robot in the field of traction and agronomic processes is implemented based on data from many sensors (cameras, position sensors, distance sensors, and others). The robot is intended for ecologic cultivation requiring mechanical removal of weeds or in crops with application of selective liquid agrochemicals limited to the minimum. The use of a vision system, based on the map coordinates of the position of the sown seeds, allows for their care on an early stage of plant development. Main sensor system is based on a specialized GPS receiver and inertial navigation providing position information with an accuracy of around 10 mm. To determine the angular acceleration the IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) is used. Additionally, information from the acceleration sensors and wheel encoders is used for navigation purposes. This system is used to: control the speed of the robot, keep the robot on the designated path, and detect the precise position of the seeds. The exact information of the seeds position is used to build maps of seeds, which will be used as supporting information for precision weeding, and to control the position of and operation of key components. The front camera view is used to increase positioning accuracy of the robot. It will allow corrections of the robot path regarding the rows of plants. The vision system is also used for detection of non-moving objects. A structure of requirements for the SQL database has been developed, which is used to store plant and weed geo-data, as well as store data about plants and weeds, based on images recorded by the vision system.

Sterilization is one of the basic thermal treatment process employed in foodstuff processing. Mainly, it is based on a very intense heating treatment of a product. Continuous pursuit of food manufacturers to reduce the costs of food production with simultaneous increase in its safety and quality makes that sterilizer producers develop technologies that meet the expectations of food sector producers. The essence of these technologies is intensification of heat exchange processes which aim is decrease of processing time and thereby decrease of costs. Technical solutions are focused on four main areas, namely: change of a process physical parameters, choose of an adequate heating medium and insulation material, and finally on relative motion of a batch.

The aim of the paper was to propose conception of autonomous robot for sowing and wide row planting. Autonomous work of the robot in range of traction and agronomic processes will be implemented on the basis of data from a many sensors (cameras, sensors position, sensors distance, and others). Positive test results will allow for the use of the robot in organic crops requiring mechanical removal of weeds or in crops with application of selective liquid agrochemicals limited to the minimum The use of a vision system, based on the map coordinates of the position of the sown seeds , will allow for their care on an early stage of plant development. The applicability of the robot to onerous work in organic farming may encourage farmers to discontinue the use of herbicides in crops include sugar beet, corn, etc.

The article concern to the scientific and research works related to the development of mechatronic control system of sowing unit in the tilling-and-sowing combined machine. The essence of the project is the use in the combined machine of innovative control system responsible for the seeding process. The system will control the work of seeding unit (drive) and will maintain a predetermined depth of seeds sowing.

Grooved or pinned units used in seeding are characterized by variability in application rate as a function of the changing conditions of work (e.g. on the slopes). In the proposed solution, on the basis of the identification of the sensitivity of the sowing machine on the changing conditions of work, the control algorithm will be developed, which after application to a controllable propulsion system equipped with the necessary sensors will eliminate inaccurate dosing. Project/Grant No K2/IN2/64/182979 is co-financed from the budget allocated for science.

The article concern to the scientific and research works related to the development of mechatronic control system of sowing unit in the tilling-and-sowing combined machine. The essence of the project is the use in the combined machine of innovative control system responsible for the seeding process. The system will control the work of seeding unit (drive) and will maintain a predetermined depth of seeds sowing. Grooved or pinned units used in seeding are characterized by variability in application rate as a function of the changing conditions of work (e.g. on the slopes). In the proposed solution, on the basis of the identification of the sensitivity of the sowing machine on the changing conditions of work, the control algorithm will be developed, which after application to a controllable propulsion system equipped with the necessary sensors will eliminate inaccurate dosing. Project/Grant No K.2/IN2/64/182979 is co-financed from the budget allocated for science. Patent No P395909 was made as a part of the grant.

Many people are exposed to whole-body vibration (WBV) in their occupational lives especially drivers of vehicles such as tractor and trucks. The vibration-induced injuries or disorders in a substructure of human system are primarily associated with the vibration power absorption distributed in that substructure. Absorbed power is defined as the power dissipated in a mechanical system as a result of an applied force. The article presents the results of dynamic load analysis of the tractor mower set. The amount of absorbed power by the tractor’s operator, based on physical models have been calcu- lated, as a function of operating speed of tractor mower set.