• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.131-140
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• 2000

Spraying operation is one of the most essential in an orchard management and it is also hazardous to human body. for automatic and unmanned spraying , an autonomous travelling vehicle is demanded. In this study, a telemeter was developed using infrared beam which could detect trunks and obstacles measure distance and direction from the vehicle travelling in the orchard. The telemeter system was composed of two infrared LED transmitters and receivers, a beam scanning device for continuous object detection , two rotary encoders for angle detector, and a beam level controller for uneven soil surface. The detected distance and direction signal s were sent to personal computer which made for the system display the angular and distance measurements through I/O board. According to a field test in an apple farm, the system detected up to 10m distance under 12 V of transmitted beam intensity, however, it was recommended that the proper beam transmit intensity be 7 v at the 10 m distance, because of the negative effect to human body at 12 V. The error rate of this system was 0.92 % when the actual distance was compared to measured one. The system was feasible at the small error rate. The developed telemeter system was an important part for autonomous travelling vehicle provided the real time object recognition . A direction control system could be constructed suing the system. It is expected that the system could greatly contribute to the development of autonomous farm vehicle.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제14권9호
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• pp.4142-4148
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• 2013

경사지 과수의 효율적인 재배 및 관리를 위해 과수원 전용 고소 작업차량 사용이 늘어나고 있다. 이러한 이유로 작업자 안전을 위해 고소 작업차의 안정성에 대해 연구가 요구되고 있다. 본 연구는 경사지 흙길을 주행할 수 있는 4개의 바퀴와 2개의 직교 좌표계 적재함을 가진 과수원 차량의 안정성 평가에 대한 연구이다. 차량 메커니즘에 대한 다물체 동역학(MBD) 해석을 통하여 19.2, $34.6^{\circ}$의 좌우 및 상하 방향의 전복각을 계산할 수 있었다. 바퀴들의 주행 저항과 소요 동력을 결정하였다. 그리고 적재함 프레임의 유한요소해석(FEA)를 통하여 최대응력 146 MPa로 구조적으로 안정하다. 따라서 적재함을 가진 바퀴형 과수원 차량은 정적 및 동적 안정성을 가짐을 알 수 있었다.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• 제31권6호
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• pp.489-499
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• 2006

Since the application of chemicals in confined spaces under the canopy of an orchard is hazardous work, it is needed to develop an autonomous guidance system for an orchard sprayer. The autonomous guidance system developed in this research could steer the vehicle by tracking an overhead guidance rail, which was installed on an existing frame structure. The autonomous guidance system consisted of an 80196 kc microprocessor, an inclinometer, two interface circuits of actuators for steering and ground speed control, and a fuzzy control algorithm. In addition, overhead guidance rails for both straight and curved paths were devised, and a trolley was designed to move smoothly along the overhead guidance rails. Evaluation tests showed that the experimental vehicle could travel along the desired path at a ground speed of 30 $\sim$ 50 cm/s with a RMS error of 5 cm and maximum deviation of less than 12 cm. Even when the vehicle started with an initial offset or a deflected heading angle, it could move quickly to track the desired path after traveling 2 $\sim$ 3 m. The vehicle could also complete turns with a curvature of 1 m. However, at a ground speed of 50 cm/s, the vehicle tended to over-steer, resulting in a zigzag motion along the straight path, and tended to turn outward from the projected line of the guidance rail.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• 제34권6호
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• pp.397-403
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• 2009

This study was carried out to investigate the present status of subsoil compaction, and subsoil compaction management in orchard as a basic study for developing a self-propelled explosive subsoiler. Subsoil compaction was evaluated using the soil penetration resistance. Soil cone index was measured using the DIK 5520 type cone penetrometer in several fruit farms such as apple, pear, peach and grapes during growing seasons of these fruit in Jecheon, Gamgok, Choongju, Cheonan and Hwasung areas. Most of the subsoil managing machinery were either explosive type or digging type attached to the tractor or power tiller and turning radius of this machine was more than 3-5 m. Many of the farmers wanted to use the subsoiler which can put lime into soil and rupture soil at the same time. For most of the orchard fields, soil penetration resistance in vehicle traffic area was increased quickly and reached about 1.0 MPa in 5 cm soil depth. As the soil depth increased to 15-20 cm, cone penetration resistance reached about 2.0-2.5 MPa which restricted root growth seriously. Thus it was concluded that one of the main reason for increasing the soil compaction in orchard fields is agricultural vehicle traffic. In the vicinity of fruit trees, compaction is not so serious compared to that of the vehicle traffic area, but as the soil depth increased to 20-25 cm, in most of the orchard fields soil penetration resistance reached about 2.0-2.5 MPa which is the root growth-limiting value. Considering the rooting depth of fruit trees which ranged 30-60 cm for apple, pear and peach, and 20-30 cm for grape, it is necessary to loosen the subosoil and improve the subsoil conditions using subsoiler.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.171-179
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• 2011

Facing the current hikes of labor wage and high oil price, it is needed to have energy-saving machinery which also enables us precise farm operations. Thus, it was necessary to develop a safe machine which allows secure and pleasant works along orchard slopes. In this study, a lifting utility with balance-controlled platform was developed. The platform utility could maintain to level the workbench while driving along slopes. Even the machine body was driven at the tilt angle ranges of ${\pm}20^{\circ}$, the platform bench could be maintained within ${\pm}0.5^{\circ}$ of a gimbal angle. In addition, the machine lifted up to 2.0 m using an electric-hybrid driving mechanism with a low noise. A tandem hybrid power source was developed with a DC 72 V, 100 AH for the Deep-Cycle batteries, charged with 3.5 kW gasoline generator as an auxiliary power source. HST, which is one of the CVT's, was adopted as a transmission device, and a crawer track was used for the safety of the vehicle against tip-over. The maximum lifting height of platform was is 2,500 mm, and the maximum extendable width was 2,900 mm.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.291-304
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• 1998

A control algorithm fir the unmanned vehicles was developed using image information received through a CCD camera that acquires more powerful information over the wide range of wave-length comparing with other sensors and was applied to a speed-sprayer. The algorithm consisted of straight mode for passing along with middle of two tree-rows and turning mode for changing from a row to another row. In case of turning mode, two marks of colored papers were employed to indicate turning point and to decide turning direction for various orchard situations. The method of analysis and image would be differed according to camera's tilt-angle and position that is set on the speed-sprayer. Hence, it analyzed the point of difference by making camera's up and downward tilt-angle.

• 드라이브 ㆍ 컨트롤
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.23-30
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• 2020

Driving on irregular and inclined roads using agricultural machinery such as spraying machines or trucks in orchards causes farmer casualties associated with the overturning of agricultural machinery. In addition, the harm to agricultural workers caused by the excessive inhalation of the scattered pesticide frequently occurs during pest control processes. To address these problems, we introduced precision agricultural technology that could selectively spray pesticides only where the fruit is present by recognizing the presence or shape of the fruit in the orchard. In this paper, a 16-channel LIDAR (VLP-16) made of Velodyne was used to identify the shape of fruit trees. Solenoid valves were attached to the end parts of 12 nozzles of the orchard spraying machine for on/off control. The smart spraying machine implemented in this way was mounted on a vehicle capable of autonomous travel and performed selective control depending upon the shape of the fruit trees while traveling in the orchards. This is expected to significantly reduce the amounts of pesticides used in orchards and production costs.