Research on a Coordinated Control Method of Tractor Electro-Hydraulic Hitch Tillage Depth and Travel Speed Based on Optimal Overall Efficiency and Economic Performance

Xiaoxu Sun, Yue Song, Zhixiong Lu () and Xiaoting Deng
Additional contact information
Xiaoxu Sun: College of Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210031, China
Yue Song: College of Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210031, China
Zhixiong Lu: College of Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210031, China
Xiaoting Deng: College of Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210031, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 21, 1-20

Abstract: To improve traction efficiency and reduce fuel consumption during tractor tillage operations, a coordinated control method for electro-hydraulic hitch depth and tractor speed was proposed. Based on theoretical analysis, a dynamic model of the tractor–implement system during tillage was established. The principles of coordinated control were developed, and a comprehensive performance evaluation index considering both efficiency and economic performance of the tractor was proposed to optimize the coordinated control objectives. A depth controller and a speed controller were, respectively, designed based on the sliding mode control algorithm. A hardware-in-the-loop test platform for coordinated control of electro-hydraulic hitch depth and travel speed was established via CAN communication. Comparative experiments were conducted under three operational conditions (Condition 1: tillage depth 16 cm, soil specific resistance 2.5–3.5 N/cm 2 ; Condition 2: 20 cm, 3.5–4.5 N/cm 2 ; Condition 3: 24 cm, 4.5–5.5 N/cm 2 ) against the conventional single depth control method under full throttle. Results demonstrated that the coordinated depth-speed control method improved the overall tractor efficiency-economy by 50.0%, 33.3%, and 26.7% under these respective conditions compared to the single depth control method. This method not only ensures operation quality but also enhances the comprehensive performance of the tractor, effectively improving traction efficiency and reducing fuel consumption. Moreover, it demonstrates better adaptability to varying field conditions.

Keywords: tractor; electro-hydraulic hitch system; efficiency and economic performance; coordinated control (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: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/21/2232/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/21/2232/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:21:p:2232-:d:1779871

Access Statistics for this article

Agriculture is currently edited by Ms. Leda Xuan

More articles in Agriculture from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().