Digital Wireless Technology to Measure Agricultural Performance

Abstract

When testing agricultural machinery in order to determine its functional indicators, the ability to wirelessly transmit data between sensors, measuring and information systems are important. (Research purpose) To develop methods and create wireless digital devices for determining the functional indicators of agricultural tractors and machines with the ability to wirelessly transmit data to a remote control point in real time. (Materials and methods) The authors assumed that it was possible to determine the slipping of driving wheels using an inertial navigation system. It was found that in order to calculate real-time indicators obtained using wireless technologies, it was necessary to determine the characteristics of the input signals of discrete sensors on the side of the measuring system. (Results and discussions) The authors substantiated a method for determining the period of incoming signals of discrete sensors with an accuracy of 0.001 seconds for wireless information transmission. They proposed the design of a slipping sensor for an energy vehicle driving wheels, the main element of which is an inertial wheel position sensor. They developed a discrete signal input module and an inertial slipping sensor with the possibility of wireless data transmission based on a radio system with a carrier frequency of 433 megahertz. During field tests, it was found that the accuracy of determining slippage using the inertial wireless sensor IP-291 does not exceed 1 percent; the range of stable radio communication from the tested object to the test control center reaches 1000 meters; the current indicators obtained through digital radio communication did not differ from the indicators obtained in the tractor cab. (Conclusions) The authors worked out an effective system for wireless information transfer with the ability to calculate the performance of the tested equipment in real time.