Using the modified DEM (Distinct Element Model), which we proposed, the effect of cross section of tire lug on the tire performance was simulated. Though the DEM has an advantage over the FEM when it is applied to simulate the behavior of discrete assembly of particles such as soil, there was still a problem in the case of conventional DEM, that the simulated movement of particles was too free. We constructed a new mechanical model (modified DEM) which can take account of the effect of adhesion between particles. It is shown that the soil deformation is simulated by the modified DEM better than the conventional DEM. Comparing the simulated soil reaction to the tire lug with the experimental results, the adequate DEM parameters were found. It is also indicated possible to find the effect of lug cross section shape on the tractive performance of tire by the DEM simulation.

Optimization was considered from three perspectives : minimum grain loss, minimum damaged grain loss, and minimum power consumption. Factors affecting combine performance were classified as control, adjustable, and environmental. Control and adjustable factors were optimized by the parameter design developed by Taguchi. Environmental factors were used as input for optimization. Optimum range for control and adjustable factors are presented. Parameter design was adequate to obtain the optimum levels of control factors and optimum range of adjustable factors.

Measurement of spray deposit is necessary for evaluation of a chemical application technology. However it is not easy and time consuming. A simple method for measuring the deposition amount of spray using a tracer and a spectrophotometer was developed. Various materials were tested to determine an adequate tracer. Food dye was selected as a tracer, because it was cheep and easily treatable. Using NIRS(Near Infrared Reflection Spectrophotometer), a regression curves between maximum absorbance of a solution and concentration of the tracer were obtained. Yellow food dye solution showed a peak of spectrum at 452 nm, and absorbance of peak showed a tendency to increase as concentration increased. Green or pink food dye were tested and judged to be good tracers. However, tracer concentration should not exceed certain limits in order to measure maximum absorption. Using spraying liquid with known tracer concentration and known amount of washing liquid, spray deposit amount on real targets on leaves could be estimated at less than 13% error level.

The development of bio-response feedback control system known as the speaking plant approach has been a challenging task for plant production engineers and scientists. In order to achieve the aim of developing such a bio-response feedback control system, the primary concern should be to develop a practical non-invasive technique for monitoring plant growth. Those who are skilled in raising plants can sense whether their plants are under adequate water conditions or not, for example, by merely observing minor color and tone changes before the plants wilt. Consequently, using machine vision, it may be possible to recognize changes in indices that describe plant conditions based on the appearance of growing plants. The interpretation of image information of plants may be based on image features extracted from the original pictorial image. In this study, the performance of a finite element retina was optimized by a genetic algorithm. The optimized finite element retina was evaluated based on the performance of neural plant growth monitor that requires input data given by the finite element retina.

Wet porous media representing agronomic soil that contains variable water content with variable electrolyte concentration was measured to study the shape of the curves of the electric double layer capacitance versus frequency (from 10 KHz to 10 MHz. This was done in an attempt to find the lowest practical operating frequency for developing low cost dielectric constant soil moisture probes. Cellulose sponge was used as the porous media. A high frequency electronic bridge circuit was developed for measuring the equivalent network parallel resistance and capacitance of porous media. It appears that the effects of the electric double layer component of the total parallel network capacitance essentially disappear at operating frequencies greater than approximately 25 MHz at low electrolyte concentrations but are still important at 50 MHz at higher concentrations. At these frequencies, the double layer capacitance masks the diffusion region capacitance where true water content capacitance values reside. The general shape of the curve of volumetric water content versus porous media dielectric constant is presented, with an empirical equation representing data for this type of curve. It was concluded that the lowest frequency where dielectric constant values which represent true water content information will most likely be found is between 30 and 50 MHz at low electrolyte concentrations but may be above 50 MHz when the total electrolyte concentration is near the upper level required for most mesophyte plant nutrition.

Though the freshness for agricultural products is an important factor related to their quality management, this terminology is being used restrictedly because it is very subjective. In this study, a dimensionless index which had the span of the maximum of 1 through the minimum of 0 was proposed to describe freshness of the product with time-variant quality and was applied to Tsugaru and Fuji apples. First, the compressive properties having the linearity in their change regarding time elapsed after harvest were selected. For Tsugaru apple, bio-yield and rupture forces had high correlation with time while for Fuji, bio-yield and rupture deformations had high correlations. When the slope, or ratio of force to deformation, was considered, the effect of cultivar could be neglected. When the linearly time-variant compressive properties for Tsugaru and Fuji apples were involved in the freshness indices, they described well freshness of apples. Also, the freshness decay constant depicted a characteristic which related to freshness decay rate. Therefore, the freshness index can be utilized to manage the quality during storage and distribution of apples.

Mechanical properties of the apple flesh were tested with compression test apparatus constructed by this study. The computer program was developed for measuring mechanical properties, and analyzing data obtained from the study. Compression tests on the apple flesh were performed at four levels of specimen diameter, three levels of specimen length, and at constant loading rate(25mm/min). Five replications were made at each treatment combination. Effect of specimen size on the mechanical properties of the apple flesh was investigated.

A magnet assembly is a critical element of a nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) based sensor. Magnetic flux density and homogeneity are essential to its optimum performance. Geometry and magnet material properties determine the magnetic flux density and homogeneity of the assembly. This study was carried out to develop the design for a magnet assembly. A 2-D finite element model for the magnetic assembly was developed using ANSYS and evaluated the effects of adding shimming frames and steel bars in the corners of the rectangular steel cover which surrounded the magnet. The assembly was manufactured and evaluated. According to the ANSYS model, modified pole frames increased magnetic flux density by 8.3% and increased homogeneity by 83%. Addition of steel bars in the corners increased the magnetic flux density by 1%, and improved homogeneity up to three times. The difference between simulated and measured magnetic flux densities at the center point of the air gap was within 2.4%.

In order to investigate the compost process and the evaporating phenomenon, a rotary reversing compost system has been tested in a swine farm. During the summer season, the compost temperature was varied in the range of 50~$60^{\circ}C.$ and the ash content was increased by 12.8 % with the average of 24.7 % at the end of phase. In the winter season, the compost temperature was varied in the range of 40~$57^{\circ}C.$ and the ash content was increased to 8.5 % showing the average of 18 % at the end of phase. In summer, the compost facility could handle all of the animal waste, but it could not handle 1/4~1/3 of the animal excrement during the winter. The required amount of sawdust by this method could be reduced to 1/3 than that of the mixing method at the beginning of compost process.

After ten years of implementing the agricultural automation program in Taiwan, some positive effects and satisfactory results have been recognized by both the agricultural industry and local administrative bureaux. The automation of agriculture is a response to sophisticated demands for production and quality in countries with high labor costs. The development of sensor systems, control systems, precision agriculture systems, and engineering for plant culture systems will determine the degree of automation used for crop production in the 21st century. The engineering system will capitalize upon expertise from physiologists, pathologists, systems analysts, agronomists, horticulturists, computer programmers, economists, crop producers and managers in order to efficiently implement automated crop production.