Development and Evaluation of a Closed-Loop Control System for Automation of a Mechanical Wild Blueberry Harvester’s Picking Reel

Mechanical harvesting of wild blueberries remains the most cost-effective means for harvesting the crop. Harvesting of wild blueberries is heavily reliant on operator skill and full automation of the harvester will rely on precise and accurate determination of the picking reel’s height. This study l...

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Main Authors: Travis J. Esau, Craig B. MacEachern, Qamar U. Zaman, Aitazaz A. Farooque
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-06-01
Series:AgriEngineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2624-7402/2/2/22
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author Travis J. Esau
Craig B. MacEachern
Qamar U. Zaman
Aitazaz A. Farooque
author_facet Travis J. Esau
Craig B. MacEachern
Qamar U. Zaman
Aitazaz A. Farooque
author_sort Travis J. Esau
collection DOAJ
description Mechanical harvesting of wild blueberries remains the most cost-effective means for harvesting the crop. Harvesting of wild blueberries is heavily reliant on operator skill and full automation of the harvester will rely on precise and accurate determination of the picking reel’s height. This study looked at developing a control system which would provide feedback on harvester picking reel height on up to five harvester heads. Additionally, the control system looked at implementing three quality of life improvements for operators, operating multiple heads until the point when full automation is achieved. These three functions were a tandem movement function, a baseline function, and a set-to-one function. Each of these functions were evaluated for their precision and accuracy and returned absolute mean discrepancies of 3.10, 2.20, and 2.50 mm respectively. Both electric and hydraulic actuators were evaluated for their effectiveness in this system however, the electric actuator was simply too slow to be deemed viable for the commercial harvesters. To achieve the full 203.2 mm stroke required by the harvester head, the electric actuator required 13.96 s while the hydraulic actuator required only 2.30 s under the same load.
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spelling doaj.art-c0c437f4c9504b02b38be8e5889351f92023-11-20T03:34:19ZengMDPI AGAgriEngineering2624-74022020-06-012232233510.3390/agriengineering2020022Development and Evaluation of a Closed-Loop Control System for Automation of a Mechanical Wild Blueberry Harvester’s Picking ReelTravis J. Esau0Craig B. MacEachern1Qamar U. Zaman2Aitazaz A. Farooque3Department of Engineering, Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture, Truro, NS B2N 5E3, CanadaDepartment of Engineering, Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture, Truro, NS B2N 5E3, CanadaDepartment of Engineering, Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture, Truro, NS B2N 5E3, CanadaSchool of Sustainable Design Engineering, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, CanadaMechanical harvesting of wild blueberries remains the most cost-effective means for harvesting the crop. Harvesting of wild blueberries is heavily reliant on operator skill and full automation of the harvester will rely on precise and accurate determination of the picking reel’s height. This study looked at developing a control system which would provide feedback on harvester picking reel height on up to five harvester heads. Additionally, the control system looked at implementing three quality of life improvements for operators, operating multiple heads until the point when full automation is achieved. These three functions were a tandem movement function, a baseline function, and a set-to-one function. Each of these functions were evaluated for their precision and accuracy and returned absolute mean discrepancies of 3.10, 2.20, and 2.50 mm respectively. Both electric and hydraulic actuators were evaluated for their effectiveness in this system however, the electric actuator was simply too slow to be deemed viable for the commercial harvesters. To achieve the full 203.2 mm stroke required by the harvester head, the electric actuator required 13.96 s while the hydraulic actuator required only 2.30 s under the same load.https://www.mdpi.com/2624-7402/2/2/22control systemagriculturehydraulics precision machinerywild blueberryharvester
spellingShingle Travis J. Esau
Craig B. MacEachern
Qamar U. Zaman
Aitazaz A. Farooque
Development and Evaluation of a Closed-Loop Control System for Automation of a Mechanical Wild Blueberry Harvester’s Picking Reel
AgriEngineering
control system
agriculture
hydraulics precision machinery
wild blueberry
harvester
title Development and Evaluation of a Closed-Loop Control System for Automation of a Mechanical Wild Blueberry Harvester’s Picking Reel
title_full Development and Evaluation of a Closed-Loop Control System for Automation of a Mechanical Wild Blueberry Harvester’s Picking Reel
title_fullStr Development and Evaluation of a Closed-Loop Control System for Automation of a Mechanical Wild Blueberry Harvester’s Picking Reel
title_full_unstemmed Development and Evaluation of a Closed-Loop Control System for Automation of a Mechanical Wild Blueberry Harvester’s Picking Reel
title_short Development and Evaluation of a Closed-Loop Control System for Automation of a Mechanical Wild Blueberry Harvester’s Picking Reel
title_sort development and evaluation of a closed loop control system for automation of a mechanical wild blueberry harvester s picking reel
topic control system
agriculture
hydraulics precision machinery
wild blueberry
harvester
url https://www.mdpi.com/2624-7402/2/2/22
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AT qamaruzaman developmentandevaluationofaclosedloopcontrolsystemforautomationofamechanicalwildblueberryharvesterspickingreel
AT aitazazafarooque developmentandevaluationofaclosedloopcontrolsystemforautomationofamechanicalwildblueberryharvesterspickingreel