Development and implementation of a raspberry Pi-based IoT system for real-time performance monitoring of an instrumented tractor

Abstract

The tractor serves as a crucial power source in agricultural operations. However, the tractor's power often remains underutilized due to a mismatch between the tractor and implement, considering specific field conditions. To enhance system output, it becomes vital to acquire data on performance-related parameters for the tractor-implement combination. In this study we develop a real-time Instrumented Tractor Performance Monitoring System (ITPMS) using the Internet-of-Things (IoT). This system consists of a Raspberry Pi, a GPS sensor, a proximity sensor, a rotary potentiometer, and a three-point hitch dynamometer. The rotary potentiometer measures tillage depth, while the three-point hitch dynamometer used to measure data on draft force. Proximity sensors are installed on a two-wheel drive (2WD) tractor to measure forward speed and drive-wheel slip. We establish a dedicated web server using a Google® Firebase® project to store data from all sensors through Raspberry Pi. Additionally, we design a web interface and a mobile application to provide real-time data generated from the sensors. Field experiments were done to evaluate and monitor the performance parameters of the tractor-implement combination utilising the developed ITPMS. The results demonstrate that the system effectively monitors the performance parameters necessary for tractor-implement combination. Furthermore, the system's capability to update data to the IoT server in real-time is validated. Overall, the development and implementation of this Raspberry Pi based IoT system, provides a reliable and efficient solution for real-time performance monitoring of instrumented tractors.