HMI-assisted visual interface-cum-embedded system for measurement of tractor–implement performance parameters

A human–machine interface (HMI)-based visual interface along with an embedded system was developed to real-time measure, display, and store the various tractor–implement performance parameters, that is, geoposition, depth, speed, slip, fuel consumption, draft, and power take-off (PTO) torque. The developed system consists of various commercially available (global positioning system, rotary potentiometer, tension/compression load cell, Hall-effect sensor, flow meter, and strain gauge) sensors/transducers to measure the performance parameters. A strain-gauge-based special type of transducer was also developed for measuring the PTO torque acting on the implement and the output of the transducer was transferred to the virtual interface-based data acquisition system using radio frequency-based modules. Along with the sensors, the developed system is composed of a microcontroller to process the data received from sensors, an HMI-assisted smart touch screen to display the output, and a secure digital card module to store the processed data. The developed visual interface of the embedded system comprises multiple operator-friendly touch screens and each screen was designed with a graphical user interface for the visual presentation of the tractor–implement performance parameters. The system was installed in the TAFE Samrat 4410 tractor and tested under various field operations. Sensors employed in the system were calibrated for obtaining precise measurement, and excellent linearity with a high correlation between actual and measured variables. Under various field operations (plowing and tillering), a maximum error of 15% (except PTO torque) was found between parameters measured with the developed system and manual/predicted measurement. The field results fortify the acceptable accuracy of the developed system. The developed system will be helpful for researchers or students to study the matching of tractor–implement combinations.