Automatic tractor slip-draft embedded control system

Abstract A microcontroller-based embedded system for automatic slip-draft control was designed, developed and tested for a 2WD tractor. The system synchronously measures and controls the wheel slip and implement′s draft closer to the set ranges under varying field conditions. Actual and theoretical speeds were digitally acquired through the controller-Hall Effect combination employed on front and rear wheels for the digital accession of the wheel slip. Implement draft was recorded using a three-point linkage dynamometer placed between the tractor and implement. The developed system was evaluated with test tractor and analogized with the existing draft control system. A maximum slip variation of 2% was witnessed between the computed and the indicated values in the developed system. The novel intelligent slip-draft control system also amounted to improve the tractive performance of 9.17% and 6.05% during ploughing and harrowing respectively when analyzed against an existing draft control system. It also minimizes operator fatigue and improves the operation efficiency resulting from a minimum intervention for depth and draft control under dynamic field conditions.

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