Design and Validation of a Variable-Rate Control Metering Mechanism and Smart Monitoring System for a High-Precision Sugarcane Transplanter

Abdallah E. Elwakeel (), Yasser S. A. Mazrou, Ahmed S. Eissa, Abdelaziz M. Okasha, Adel H. Elmetwalli, Abeer H. Makhlouf, Khaled A. Metwally, Wael A. Mahmoud and Salah Elsayed
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Abdallah E. Elwakeel: Agricultural Engineering Department, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Aswan University, Aswan 81528, Egypt
Yasser S. A. Mazrou: Applied College, Muhayil Asir, King Khalid University, Abha 62587, Saudi Arabia
Ahmed S. Eissa: Agricultural Products Process Engineering Department, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11751, Egypt
Abdelaziz M. Okasha: Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh 33516, Egypt
Adel H. Elmetwalli: Agricultural Engineering Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt
Abeer H. Makhlouf: Department of Agricultural Botany, Faculty of Agriculture, Minufiya University, Shibin El-Kom 32511, Egypt
Khaled A. Metwally: Soil and Water Sciences Department, Faculty of Technology and Development, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, Egypt
Wael A. Mahmoud: Department of Agricultural Machinery and Power Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt
Salah Elsayed: Agricultural Engineering, Evaluation of Natural Resources Department, Environmental Studies and Research Institute, University of Sadat City, Sadat City 32897, Egypt

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-20

Abstract: The current study aimed to design and test the accuracy of a variable-rate control metering mechanism (VRCMM) and a remote smart monitoring system (RSMS) for a precision sugarcane transplanter based on IoT technology. The VRCMM is used to operate the seedling metering device at different speeds using a stepper motor based on the travel speed, and the RSMS was employed to evaluate of the three basic parameters of seedling amount, optimum rate, and missed rate. Two types of sensors were used for detecting the sugarcane seedling (SS) and travel speed, including one ultrasonic sensor and one infrared RPM sensor. The study was performed at five travel speeds and four transplant spacings. The findings of laboratory tests showed that the mean record of the relative error between the desired stepper motor speed of the VRCMM and the real value was 3.39%, and it increased with increasing the travel speed. as Additionally, the speed regulation performance was in agreement with the transplanting index. The change in RSMS accuracy is obvious when the travel speed is high and the transplant spacing is small. The RSMS accuracy drops sharply, revealing a leaping change. In conclusion, the smart and intelligent designed sugarcane transplanter would be very useful in sugarcane production.

Keywords: planter; seeder; metering device; ultrasonic sensor; Arduino; precision agriculture (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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