Automatic Control of the Comnbine(I) -Automatic guidance control of the head-feed combine-

콤바인의 자동제어에 관한 연구(I) -자탈형(自脱型) 콤바인의 주행방향제어(走行方向制御)-

This study was intended to develop the system automatically controlling travel direction of combine by means of sensing paddy rows. The control system was composed of three detecting levers having different length, micro-switch, microcomputer and electro-hydraulic control system. Sensor and control system developed was tested to estimate optimum design values and its actual performance as installed in combine. The computer simulation and performance test at simulated and actual field were conducted to test for possibility of practical use. The results of the study arc summarized. as follows: 1. The travel traces of combine hiving the conventional sensor with 2 levers and the new sensor detecting the slope of paddy rows were compared through computer simulation. Turning frequency of combine having new sensor was fewer than that of conventional sensor, but the rate of turning for the combine with new sensor was much greater than that of conventional sensor. 2. As sensor was established behind the tip of divider, the sensor itself well followed paddy rows but the tip of divider did not, resulting in divider being deviated from paddy rows. It was analyzed that the sensor should be attached closer to the tip of divider to have a better performance of the control system. 3. The greater the length of sensor lever for given location of sensor attachment and combine forward speed, the higher sensitivity of turning in control system. Moreover, increasing combine speed resulted in a worse performance of control system following paddy rows. Consequently, it was necessary that an optimum length of sensor attachment and for the range of combine operational speed. 4. Field test of combine installed with the sensor and electro-hydraulic system developed in this study showed that it may be operated smoothly and well behaved to paddy rows to 4th gear of combine speed which was 59cm/s. Consequently. it was concluded that the combine with the guidance control system developed in this study may be successfully used for paddy combining.