STEERING CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AUTONOMOUS SMALL ORCHARD SPRAYER

For self-guiding track-type orchard sprayer, a low-cost steering controller was developed using two ultrasonic sensors, two DC motors and 80196kc microprocessor. The operating principle of controller was to travel the sprayer between artificial targets such as wood stick placed every 1 m along both sides of the demanded path of speed sprayer. Measuring distances to both targets ahead with the ultrasonic sensors mounted on the front end of sprayer, the controller could determine how much offset the position of sprayer was laterally. Then the steering angle was calculated to actuate DC motors connected to the steering clutches, where the fuzzy control algorithm was used. Equipped with the controller developed in this research, the sprayer could be traveled along demanded path, the centerline between targets, at speeds of up to 0.4m/sec with an accuracy of ${\pm}$20cm.