Development of Program in VB to Compute Tractor Parameters on Automatic Steering

A comprehensible computer program is developed in Visual Basic studio to determine the tractor parameters for an automated steering system. Tractor parameters such as real wheel and front wheel trajectory coordinates, clockwise front and rear wheel angle and corrected front and rear wheel angle can be calculated. The input parameters of the developed program are mainly front wheel trajectory data, rear wheel trajectory, distance between front and rear wheel(X13), Tractor velocity vector(V) and Tractor turning angle with center line. The tractor parameters are being calculated with the help of mathematical model which are already fed in program. The developed program successfully calculates the tractor parameters on automated steering system. This developed software could guide an autonomous agricultural tractor in the field. Furthermore, software navigates agricultural tractor both in straight or curved path at normal field operational speed. Article history Received: 03 July 2017 Accepted:31 July 2017

guidance of farm machines.To solve this problem, automated machinery guidance system has been developed to automatically steer the machinery to perform various agricultural operations.In precision agriculture, automated steering system for tractor play a very important role.(Jingtao et al., 2015).The basic requirements for an automated machinery guidance system include detecting the tractor position; planning for an optimal path for the machinery carefully without damaging the crop and accurately steering the tractor along the desire path.The automated steering system can reduce drive fatigue which results in increase in both productivity and safety of the operation.In terms of functionality.Automated steering system are classified into the two types which are operator-aided systems and autonomous systems.In first system only human driver is guiding the tractor on the desire paths; while in second types of system replaces the human driver to perform all field operations.Also, sometimes combining above both types of system.
Automatic steering has advantages like, repeatable path tracking, full use of the implement's effective width, reduction in overlapping and ease in operation during night time or during low visibility conditions (Holpp et al., 2013).Automatic steering also lowers the costs of agricultural operations (Shinners et al., 2012).The profits generated by automatic steering systems in agricultural machines are determined mainly by the quality of operation (Dunn et al., 2006).Mostly global positioning system (GPS) is used as navigation sensor.Researchers could guide an agricultural tractor on desired path with real time kinematic GPS based navigation system (Bell,2000).But they have higher percentage of error.To reduce it an inertial measurement unit with an RTK-GPS to provide more accurate navigation information was developed.That could guide tractor performing all field operations including planting cultivating and spraying on both straight and curved paths (Kise et al., 2001(Kise et al., , 2002)).
Sensors can detect a path in the field.Vision-based guidance can be used to guide the agricultural tractor which can perform various operations (Benson et al., 2003).Numbers of researchers has reported attempts to improve the reliability of pathway determinations for vision based guidance systems.Hague and Tillett (2001) used a bandpass filter to find the path.Gilmour (1960), Brooke and David (1968), MacHardy (1967), Rushing (1959) have looked into the use of different path guidance systems.Richey (1959), Liljedahl and Strait (1962), Parish et al., (1970), Grovum and Morris (1968) have investigated different types of control mechanisms.However, little attention has been paid on effect of tractor parameters on automatic steering.Many of the design factors used for modern tractors, e.g., visibility, operator comfort and control location have little bearing on the design of an automatic tractor (Shukla et al.,1970).
According to Moncaster and Harries, (1984) the basic need for automatic control of agricultural steering system to increase efficiency of field operation.An automatic guidance system for agricultural tractors should be authentic, flexible, simple to operate , easy to maintain and versatile (Grovum and Zoerb, 1970).
The major advantage of the software is that by accurately controlling the straight or curved paths of agricultural tractor, the width of coverage and soil compaction in the soil can be minimized.A real-time guidance system is required to keep field equipment operating only on the predetermined paths.
The aim of this study was to develop computer program using visual basic software on the basis of mathematic modelling which has already been developed by various scientists.That mathematical modeling shows the relationship between tractor parameters and automatic steering accuracy.The findings of the study can help in determining various tractor parameters in automated steering system on predefine curve path.So, software can easily help in calculating the tractor steering parameters while the tractor is turning.

materials and methods mathematical model
A model was developed carrying the relationship between tractor parameters, speed and tractor position (Shukla et al., 1970).In the first-place model was little bit complex, but after assumptions like operation on a plane surface at low speed so that inertia and soil reaction forces could be neglected.The various annotations used in developing the mathematical model and its schematic diagram is shown in Fig. 1.Some few assumptions were taken in tractor all wheel that tends to make a clockwise turn (Fig. 1) were considered positive angle value.Also, an anti-clockwise turn was considered as negative value.These mathematical models were developed back in earlier days so, all units used were feet, seconds and radians.
For simplification time derivatives was used as the dot notation shown as per follow, X 8 = dx 8 / dt But for this research work we took was static so, that the above equation haveX 8 equal to X 8 .From Fig. 1 rear wheel geometry of agricultural tractor, From Fig. 1 front wheel geometry of agricultural tractor, Also, we can write from Fig. 1 For a four-wheel drive tractor, the tractor velocity (V) was considered known and the velocities of the front wheel (V1) and rear wheels(V3¬) were calculated from equation ( 6) and equation ( 7): V 3 = v / cos(σ f ) ... (7) For the automatic steering system of agricultural tractor, the response from the steering was considered to be a function of the error.For front wheel steering system, the front steer angle was considered as a function of the front tracking error, which is denoted by l f , i.e.: In this four-wheel steering system, if we are trying two points on the path of the vehicle, the rear steering angle was a function of the rear tracking error, which is denoted by l r, i.e σ r = g r (l r ) ... (9) Even if, for rear wheel steering, for an example a self-propelled combine harvester, the steering response was a function of the error at the front, σ r = g r (l f ) ... (10) In this research, a relative relationship between computer error and steering response was used.... (11 a) Where, σ r1 = turning angle of the outside rear wheel.
The Schilling's equation was very useful to see the effect of steering geometry.That's why it was added to mathematical model.For any turn, the point of turning is called where the center line of all wheel axles must intersect in a common point.A wheel nearest the center of turning must have a steeper turning angle than a wheel farther from the center of turning.Hence, radius of turning, the left front wheel would have a more outrageous tuning angle for a counter wise turn than for a clockwise turn.Schilling's equation was used to reduce the turning angle of the left front wheel when it was an outside wheel.Similar points out enforce to the rear wheels for rear wheel steering geometry.
Drawback of Schilling's equation is not able to handle the example of four-wheel steering if any degree of error is present in steering geometry.For example, if the vehicle is translating crabwise as well as turning.To handle the general case of four-wheel steering, the following equations were developed by Shukla et al., ( ... (12) ... (13) Where, C= (Y 34 -Y 12 )/2 To find out whether the tractor was turning clockwise or counterclockwise, crabbing sidewise only, or traveling straight ahead a comparability task carried out which gives the directions and magnitudes of the turning angles of the left front and left rear wheels.This equivalence was made continually and equation ( 12) and ( 13) were inserted into the analysis whenever the vehicle was making a clockwise turn.

Results and Discussion
General inputs of software were taken from the previous researcher data and general considerations.
In the present study, the indicative data is tabulated in Table 1.The software output for these runs is given in Table 2.

Conclusion
The developed software is capable to calculate various tractor parameters on automated steering system and can calculate real wheel and front wheel trajectory coordinates, clockwise front and rear wheel angle and corrected front and rear wheel angle.This could be helpful in guiding the tractor, with acceptable precision for field operations, with more accurate position.A mathematical model based upon a variable steering rate might improve the stability of the guidance system with microcomputer base system.Some further improvements can be done by real field operation.

Fig. 1 :Fig. 2 (Fig. 2 (Fig. 3 :
Fig. 1: The schematic diagram used in developing the mathematical model of steering system input ParametersThe input parameters for the developed computer program are mainly divided in two parts, namely front wheel trajectory and rear wheel trajectory.The inputs include Front wheel angle (σ f ), Distance between front wheel (Y 12 ), Distance between front axle and front trajectory point (X 17 ), Rear wheel angle (σ r ), Distance between rear wheel (Y 34 ) and Distance between rear axle and rear trajectory point (X 38 ), Distance between front and rear wheel (X 13 ), Tractor velocity vector (V) and Tractor turning angle with center line.Beside the input group, the equations which are derived byShukla et al., (1970) were used in the program.The program window for input parameter is shown in Fig.2(b).The input data as per parameters discussed was taken only for indication purpose.For automated steering parameters calculation, i.e. rear wheel trajectory coordinates, front wheel trajectory coordinates, clockwise front wheel angle, clockwise rear wheel angle, corrected front wheel angle, and corrected rear wheel angle, a separate output form is created which is shown in Figure2(c).The flow chart of the developed program is shown in the Figure3.

Table 1 : input parameters inputs Data
Table indicates that the developed program is capable of calculating all components of automated steering system for tractor on curved path which is given or predefined.The same kind of technique is also mentioned by Ismail et.al., (2011) which used a camera vision with color detection for the variable rate technology (VRT) automated sprayer.They develop visual basis base software to detect green leaves.
Ismail et.al., (2012)developed similar kind of software for autonomous tractor in agricultural application and it work successfully.In that whole system include ICP-CON controller module and