Instrumentation System for a Model Laboratory Soil Bin

Tool development and prime mover selection for optimum tillage operation require both the knowledge of soil and tillage tool interaction dynamics which is a function of some system parameters. The actual value of these parameters can only be determined either from field or soil bin experiment via appropriate instrumentation systems. Several published works have been reported on development of soil bin instrumentation system. However, development of a system that can measure and log all the required parameters simultaneously in real time remains an active area of research. The distance moved and the forces acting on the tool were sensed using potentiometer and load cells, respectively. The sensed parameters and the calculated tool linear velocity were processed in parallel using microcontroller with optimised code to ensure real-time and simultaneous logging. The developed system was used for measuring and logging the distance moved by the tool, its velocity as well as the x-, y-, and z- components of force acting on the tool. The values of the distance, velocity and force were determined any time from the start of tillage operation are available on the chats of distance/velocity/force against time obtained from this work. 10 seconds from the start of tillage operation, the distance moved by the tool, tool velocity, , , and are 2.56 m, 0.27 m/s, 147.00 N, 5.00 N, and 15.00 N, respectively.