Acquisition of Grass Harvesting Characteristics Information and Improvement of the Accuracy of Topographical Surveys for the GIS by Sensor Fusion (I) - Analysis of Grass Harvesting Characteristics by Sensor Fusion -

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to install an RTK-GPS (Real Time Kinematic-Global Positioning System) and IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) on a tractor used in a farm to measure positions, pasture topography, posture angles, and vibration accelerations, translate the information into maps using the GIS, analyze the characteristics of grass harvesting work, and establish new technologies and construction standards for pasture infrastructure improvement based on the analyzed data. Method: Tractor's roll, pitch, and yaw angles and vibration accelerations along the three axes during grass harvesting were measured and a GIS map prepared from the data. A VRS/RTK-GPS (MS750, Trimble, USA) tractor position measuring system and an IMU (JCS-7401A, JAE, JAPAN) tractor vibration acceleration measuring systems were mounted on top of a tractor and below the operator's seat to obtain acceleration in the direction of progression, transverse acceleration, and vertical acceleration at 10Hz. In addition, information on regions with bad workability was obtained from an operator performing grass harvesting and compared with information on changes in tractor posture angles and vibration acceleration. Results: Roll and pitch angles based on the y-axis, the direction of forward movements of tractor coordinate systems, changed by at least 9-13° and 8-11° respectively, leading to changes in working postures in the central and northern parts of the pasture that were designated as regions with bad workability during grass harvesting. These changes were larger than those in other regions. The synthesized vectors of the vibration accelerations along the y-axis, the x-axis (transverse direction), and the z-axis (vertical direction) were higher in the central and northwestern parts of the pasture at 3.0-4.5 m/s2 compared with other regions. Conclusions: The GIS map developed using information on posture angles and vibration accelerations by position in the pasture is considered sufficiently utilizable as data for selection of construction locations for pasture infrastructure improvement.