Kinematic analysis of a hopper-type dibbling mechanism for a 2.6 kW two-row pepper transplanter

Md Zafar Iqbal,Md Nafiul Islam,ALI MOHAMMOD,Md Shaha Nur Kabir,Tusan Park,강태경,Kyu-Sik Park,정선옥 대한기계학회 2021 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.35 No.6

In this study, suitable dimensions were determined for the major design parameters of a gear-driven hopper-type dibbling mechanism using kinematic analysis, to achieve the required planting intervals and depths. The mechanism consists of three main parts: a primary arm, two connecting arms, and two dibbling hoppers. Based on the kinematic analysis, six candidate combinations of the arm length were derived from the recommended gear contact ratios. The most favorable combination for the dibbling mechanism was a 240-mm-long primary arm, 70-mm-long connecting arms, and 153-mm-long dibbling hoppers. The power consumption for the optimized dibbling mechanism was calculated to be 28.96 W without soil interaction, and measured as 40.91 W during transplanting. The mechanism provides a planting speed of 2 seedlings per second with seedling uprightness and planting success rate of 90°±3.26° and 91.8 %, respectively. The optimized dibbling mechanism was demonstrated to quickly and accurately transplant seedlings with low power consumption, which makes it an attractive and economical option for mechanization of the pepper cultivation process.

자주식 양파정식기 슬라이딩 메쉬형 기어박스의 동력전달 해석

이슬람나피울 ( Md Nafiul Islam ),알리모하마드 ( Mohammod Ali ),키라가샤피크 ( Shafik Kiraga ),초두리밀론 ( Milon Chowdhury ),권행주 ( Haing-ju Kwon ),정선옥 ( Sun-ok Chung ) 한국농업기계학회 2021 한국농업기계학회 학술발표논문집 Vol.26 No.1

An appropriate gearbox selection is essential to avoid transmission losses and convey the engine power to the transplanter components efficiently. Therefore, the objective of this research was to simulate the power transmission of a self-propelled onion transplanter gearbox for calculating the power loss and efficiency. The automatic transplanter power transmission scheme consists of wheels, and dibbling mechanism, and picking mechanism. A computer-aided gear efficiency calculation software package was used to develop a three-dimensional simulation model for the automatic onion transplanter. A V-belt with pulley and nine gear stages sliding mesh type gearbox were used to transmit power from engine to wheel and other transplanter components. The last two gear sets were used as dibbling and picking mechanism gear shafts, respectively. The transmission load was measured at the input shaft of the gearbox, and the driving axle load was measured at the final drive shaft. The load measurements were made at three-speed levels. The input power of the gearbox was 1.7 kW, and the last stage of power (picking scheme) was found as 0.8 kW. The overall efficiency of this gearbox was found as 83.39%. The outcomes of the research would provide a significant reference for the development a power transmission scheme for efficient automatic onion transplanting.

Performance Evaluation of Trenchless Subsurface Drainage Piping Machine

Md Nafiul Islam,Md Zafar Iqbal,Md. Shaha Nur Kabir,정기열,문동해,정선옥 한국농업기계학회 2019 바이오시스템공학 Vol.44 No.4

Purpose Subsurface pipe drainage can ensure consistent and profitable crop production in poorly drained agricultural regions to remove excess water from the agriculture field. However, improvement is needed in the drainage pipe installation method for the stable production of field crops. The objective of this research was to conduct a performance evaluation of a trenchless subsurface drainage piping machine in terms of pulling force requirement and pipe laying depth uniformity to facilitate the maintenance of soil water control with minimum labor. Methods Two experiment fields were selected considering the physical properties of soil, i.e., silty loam and silty clay loam fields. A load cell and a distance-measuring sensor were used to measure the pulling force and pipe burial depth uniformity, respectively, at two operation depths (40 cm and 45 cm) in both fields. The soil properties (bulk density, cone index, porosity, and soil water content) were measured at various depths (up to 55 cm) from the soil surface. Results The average pulling forces were found to be 6.78 ± 1.35 kN and 7.36 ± 1.55 kN at a depth of 40 cm and 10.07 ± 1.17 kN and 15.49 ± 1.09 kN at a depth of 45 cm for silty loam field and silty clay loam field, respectively. The average laying depths at the laying depth of 40 cm were 40.07 ± 0.30 cm and 40.34 ± 0.33 cm and those at the laying depth of 45 cm were 45.5 ± 0.22 cm and 45.24 ± 0.22 cm for silty loam field and silty clay loam field, respectively. The laying depth condition of 45 cm showed relatively better uniformity than the condition of 40 cm. Conclusions The outcomes of the research can provide a useful reference for the subsurface pipe installation guidelines of a trenchless subsurface drainage piping machine for the pipe drainage network.

Variability Analysis of Relative Humidity during Operation of a Dehumidifier in a Closed Chamber and a Small Plastic Greenhouse

( Md. Nafiul Islam ),( Md. Zafar Iqbal ),( Bo-eun Jang ),( Md. Shaha Nur Kabir ),( Hyeon-tae Kim ),( Sun-ok Chung ) 한국농업기계학회 2019 한국농업기계학회 학술발표논문집 Vol.24 No.1

Analysis of humidity variations inside the greenhouse is important for optimum growth and controlling the diseases and physiological disorders of plant. The objective of this study was to analyze the vertical and spatial variability of humidity inside a closed chamber and a small plastic greenhouse to evaluate the performance of a dehumidifier. In this study, a 4-kW dehumidifier was used for dehumidification in a closed chamber (5.7m×2.9m×2.5m) and a plastic small greenhouse (7m×5m×3m). In this experiment, the dehumidification range was from 90% to 70% and 80% to 70% with three replications. Before the dehumidification experiment, the humidity of the chamber and greenhouse was increased using the additional humidifier and then mixed the humidity well by using an air mixer. Each experiment was started after the chamber humidity level goes in a stable condition. A total twenty-seven (27) temperature and humidity sensor nodes were uniformly placed at three sections such as front, middle, and rear parts of the greenhouse, placing three (3) sensors in the top, middle, and bottom positions at each section. Additional two temperature and humidity sensor nodes were placed in front of the heater and outside of the greenhouse. Sensor nodes were composed of Arduino UNO micro-controller and nRF24L01 2.4 GHz radio/wireless transceivers modules were used for communication. The operational time for average dehumidification was recorded as 70 min and 30 min for 90% to 70% and 80% to 70% humidity range respectively for the closed chamber experiment. In the plastic small greenhouse, the operational time for average dehumidification was recorded as 30 min and 15 min for 90% to 70% and 80% to 70% humidity range respectively. Results of this study showed the vertical and spatial variability of humidity inside the experimented chamber and greenhouse. Further study would be necessary for the development of a control algorithm of the dehumidifier with a heating module in various greenhouses.

Performance Evaluation of a Suspension-Type Dehumidifier with a Heating Module for Smart Greenhouses

Md Nafiul Islam,Md Zafar Iqbal,ALI MOHAMMOD,장보은,Milon Chowdhury,Md Shaha Nur Kabir,장승호,정선옥 한국농업기계학회 2020 바이오시스템공학 Vol.45 No.3

Purpose The management of the temperature and humidity inside greenhouses is essential for optimum crop growth. The temperature and humidity statuses extensively depend on the performance of dehumidifiers and heaters in the greenhouses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of a small-scale suspension-type dehumidifier with a heating module in terms of temperature and humidity changes over time, and monitoring and controlling the status of individual actuating components in summer and winter. Methods The prototype consisted of a dehumidifier, a fan, and a heating module. Twenty-seven temperature and humidity sensor nodes were placed in three layers (top, middle, and bottom) and in three sections (front, center, and rear sides) for monitoring the temperature and humidity statuses. Two additional temperature and humidity sensor nodes were placed in front of the module and outside the greenhouses. An on/off controller was used to manage the temperature and humidity during the operation of the dehumidifier. Results Remote monitoring and controlling was successfully achieved to operate the dehumidifier with a heating module without interruption during the experiments. The time response and change results confirmed the satisfactory performance of the on/off control. The power consumption values varied depending on the status of the actuators. When the dehumidifier, fan, and heater were turned on, the average power consumption values were 556.64 ± 1.94, 125.80 ± 1.26, and 3779.60 ± 2.24 W, respectively. The temperature and humidity showed a considerable amount of spatial and vertical variability, and the temperature and humidity changes were greater in the middle section than in the other sections in both the summer and winter greenhouses. Conclusion The outcomes of the research support the need for small-scale suspension-type dehumidifiers for region-specific temperature and humidity management, and may inform possible improvement of the prototype.

농업 4륜 전기 자동차 설계를 위한 환감 기어의 부하 분석

알리모하마드 ( Mohammod Ali ),이슬람나피울 ( Md. Nafiul Islam ),레자나심 ( Md Nasim Reza ),초두리밀론 ( Milon Chowdhury ),이슬람수마이야 ( Sumaiya Islam ),이현석 ( Hyun-seok Lee ),정선옥 ( Sun-ok Chung ) 한국농업기계학회 2021 한국농업기계학회 학술발표논문집 Vol.26 No.1

The load analysis of gears is a major challenge to ensure the reliability of the power transmission system of the all-wheel-drive electric vehicle. It is necessary to select the proper material and face width for design the reduction gears to avoid its failure during field operations. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the suitable materials and dimensions, to evaluate the fatigue life regarding the level of damage. A field experiment was conducted on the off-road conditions following the driving speeds. A load (torque) measurement method was established to collect the torque data using torque sensors and data acquisition systems. A load duration distribution (LDD) method was used to analyze the torque data to examine the cyclic load characteristics. The Palmgren-Miner cumulative damage model was used to determine the fatigue damage level of the reduction gears. The hypothetic fatigue life was recorded up to 2500 hours that satisfied the actual service life of the agricultural vehicle. In order to the analyses, the steel material ‘SCr420H’ with a 5 mm face width gear was suitable for a 10-year vehicle service life. The results presented in this study can suggest the service life of a four-wheeled electric vehicle for agricultural use.

Evaluation of pepper seedling growth according to the growing period and tray for automatic transplanting

Nafiul Islam,Md Zafar Iqbal,ALI MOHAMMOD,이예슬,우재근,최일수,정선옥 충남대학교 농업과학연구소 2021 Korean Journal of Agricultural Science Vol.48 No.4

The effective growth of pepper seedlings relies on the growing period and tray used, which both aim to minimize seedling damage during the transplantation process. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of red and green pepper seedling growth in plug and cylindrical paper pot (CPP) trays with different growth periods of the seedlings. Two different seedling growth trays were used for the two varieties of pepper seedlings in the same growing media. The pepper seedling growth rates were investigated at 15, 30, and 45 days for each of variety. Important parameters, e.g., the plant height, fresh weight for the plant and root, number of leaves, leaf length and width, and leaf chlorophyll contents, were measured. During the experiment, the CPP tray maintained uniform seedling growth as compared to the plug tray. CPP trays ensured the height of the seedling, with these results 0.84 to 1.6 times higher than those of the plug tray for all conditions, indicating the good quality of the pepper seedlings. The shoot and root weights were found to be greater with more leaves in the CPP tray seedlings for 45 days compared to the seedlings grown in the plug tray, whereas the green pepper variety showed a greater leaf ratio than the red pepper seedlings. The analysis of pepper seedling growth presented in this study will guide the selection of suitable growth trays and seedling periods for farmers when they undertake automatic pepper transplantation in the field.

Theoretical Overturning Analysis of a 2.6-kW Two-Row Walking-Type Automatic Pepper Transplanter

IQBAL MD ZAFAR,Islam Md Nafiul,ALI MOHAMMOD,Kiraga Shafik,김용주,정선옥 한국농업기계학회 2022 바이오시스템공학 Vol.47 No.1

Purpose Overturning on uneven and sloped surfaces is an important issue during the operation of agricultural field machinery. In this study, the geometrical (size and location) parameters of a pepper transplanter under development were optimized by theoretical overturning analysis to maintain stability during the operation. Methods A walking-type transplanter was designed to transplant pepper seedlings in a two-row cultivation pattern so that the transplanting could be completed using three primary mechanisms for seeding, i.e., supply, picking, and dibbling. The four-wheel transplanter was designed to work with three different forward speeds (i.e., 0.3m/s, 0.65 m/s, and 1.3 m/s). Mathematical and 3-D models were constructed both for static and dynamic conditions, and simulation was performed using a commercial software package to minimize the overturning tendency of the transplanter. Results Considering the plant ridge height and width, the track width and wheelbase of the transplanter were determined to be 725mmand 680mm, respectively. The positions of the mechanisms were optimized to maintain the center of gravity (CG) of the transplanter in the middle point of the stability area with a 436.26 mm height from the ground. During the static analysis, the transplanter was overturned laterally and longitudinally at slope angles of 40.67° and 36.26°, respectively. The transplanter overturned when the angles exceeded 29.3° for uphill and 49° for downhill paths, respectively, at the maximum forward speed (1.3 m/s) during dynamic analysis. Also, lateral overturning occurred while one wheel was exposed to obstacles with heights greater than 245 mm at the maximum operating speed. Conclusions The results of this study would be helpful for designing the layout of the transplanter and the field test of the prototype.

Sensor-Based Nutrient Recirculation for Aeroponic Lettuce Cultivation

Chowdhury Milon,ISLAM MD NAFIUL,Reza Md Nasim,ALI MOHAMMOD,Rasool Kamal,Kiraga Shafik,이대현,정선옥 한국농업기계학회 2021 바이오시스템공학 Vol.46 No.1

Purpose The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of used-nutrient solution recirculation on nutrient efficiency improvement and reduction of environmental pollution of an ion-selective electrodes (ISEs)-based recycle-type aeroponic crop cultivation system. Methods A recycle-type aeroponic crop cultivation test bench was fabricated, which consisted of K+, NO3-, and Ca2+ ISEs, pH, and EC sensor, and lettuce were cultivated for inspecting the nutrient solution recirculation process. The specific growth rate of lettuce was evaluated. Different percentages of the used-solution (20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of the target volume) were recirculated to find a proper recirculation volume for maintaining the target nutrient level with the minimum supply of stock solutions. The nutrient saving percentage was determined by comparing the nutrient solution requirement with the open-type aeroponic system and open-field cultivation practices. Reduction of environmental pollution was assessed based on the possible environmental pollutions (i.e., surface water pollution, groundwater contamination, and contaminant deposition in the human body), which could be occurred by the direct discharge of the hydroponic nutrient solution. Results The minimum amount of stock solutions were required during the 60%used-solution recirculation. The nutrient solution requirement of the recycle-type aeroponic system was almost 3 to 5 times less than the open-type aeroponic system, and 3 to 6 times less than open-field cultivation based on nutrient consumption rates at different growth stages. An open-type aeroponic system might require more nutrient solution than the open-field cultivation practices based on the frequency of nutrient solution supply in the crop root zone. Although, the discharged nutrient solution increased the K+, NO3-, andCa2+ ion levels a little in the considered surface water reservoir, groundwater, and human body, long-term discharge of the high concentrated hydroponic nutrient solution would be hazardous. Conclusion The findings of this study showed that the nutrient saving efficiency of a recycle-type crop cultivation system is higher compared to the open-type and conventional cultivation practices, which can minimize the cultivation cost notably, and the environmental pollutions can be reduced significantly through the sensor-based nutrient management.

Construction and basic performance test of an ICT-based irrigation monitoring system for rice cultivation in UAE desert soil

ALI MOHAMMOD,Reza Md Nasim,Kiraga Shafik,ISLAM MD NAFIUL,Chowdhury Milon,정재혁,정선옥 충남대학교 농업과학연구소 2021 Korean Journal of Agricultural Science Vol.48 No.4

An irrigation monitoring system is an efficient approach to save water and to provide effective irrigation scheduling for rice cultivation in desert soils. This research aimed to design, fabricate, and evaluate the basic performance of an irrigation monitoring system based on information and communication technology (ICT) for rice cultivation under drip and micro-sprinkler irrigation in desert soils using a Raspberry Pi. A data acquisition system was installed and tested inside a rice cultivating net house at the United Arab Emirates University, Al-Foah, AlAin. The Raspberry Pi operating system was used to control the irrigation and to monitor the soil water content, ambient temperature, humidity, and light intensity inside the net house. Soil water content sensors were placed in the desert soil at depths of 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 cm. A sensor-based automatic irrigation logic circuit was used to control the actuators and to manage the crop irrigation operations depending on the soil water content requirements. A developed webserver was used to store the sensor data and update the actuator status by communicating via the Pi-embedded Wi-Fi network. The maximum and minimum average soil water contents, ambient temperatures, humidity levels, and light intensity values were monitored as 33.91 ± 2 to 26.95 ± 1%, 45 ± 3 to 24 ± 3℃, 58 ± 2 to 50 ± 4%, and 7160 - 90 lx, respectively, during the experimental period. The ICT-based monitoring system ensured precise irrigation scheduling and better performance to provide an adequate water supply and information about the ambient environment.