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A truly universal system to optimize consumptions, monitor operation and predict maintenance interventions for internal combustion engines must be independent of onboard systems, if present. One of the least invasive methods of detecting engine performance involves the measurement of the exhaust gas temperature (EGT), which can be related to the instant torque through thermodynamic relations. The practical implementation of such a system requires great care since its torque-predictive capabilities are strongly influenced by the position chosen for the temperature-detection point(s) along the exhaust line, specific for each engine, the type of installation for the thermocouples, and the thermal characteristics of the interposed materials. After performing some preliminary tests at the dynamometric brake on a compression-ignition engine for agricultural purposes equipped with three thermocouples at different points in the exhaust duct, a novel procedure was developed to: (1) tune a CFD-FVM-model of the exhaust pipe and determine many unknown thermodynamic parameters concerning the engine (including the real EGT at the exhaust valve outlet in some engine operative conditions), (2) use the CFD-FVM results to considerably increase the predictive capability of an indirect torque-detection strategy based on the EGT. The joint use of the CFD-FVM software, Response Surface Method, and specific optimization algorithms was fundamental to these aims and granted the experimenters a full mastery of systems’ non-linearity and a maximum relative error on the torque estimations of 2.9%.
Marco Bietresato; Francesco Selmo; Massimiliano Renzi; Fabrizio Mazzetto. Torque Prediction Model of a CI Engine for Agricultural Purposes Based on Exhaust Gas Temperatures and CFD-FVM Methodologies Validated with Experimental Tests. Applied Sciences 2021, 11, 3892 .
AMA StyleMarco Bietresato, Francesco Selmo, Massimiliano Renzi, Fabrizio Mazzetto. Torque Prediction Model of a CI Engine for Agricultural Purposes Based on Exhaust Gas Temperatures and CFD-FVM Methodologies Validated with Experimental Tests. Applied Sciences. 2021; 11 (9):3892.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarco Bietresato; Francesco Selmo; Massimiliano Renzi; Fabrizio Mazzetto. 2021. "Torque Prediction Model of a CI Engine for Agricultural Purposes Based on Exhaust Gas Temperatures and CFD-FVM Methodologies Validated with Experimental Tests." Applied Sciences 11, no. 9: 3892.
Fuel viscosity can affect engine performance: 24 ternary blends were studied. 408 lab tests allow to model viscosity as a function of biodiesel/bioethanol shares. Some trials on a tractor allowed modelling the effect of fuel viscosity on torque. Fuel viscosity is a good indicator of motor performance according to an ANOVA study. Optimal fuel blends can be defined in order to optimize torque output of the engine. The partial replacement of conventional fuels with “bio-based” fuels represents a viable energy strategy for cleaner distributed-power generation (agricultural/co-generative units). Although internal combustion engines represent a well-established technology, they will continue to play a crucial role in this energy revolution thanks to their flexibility of use and reliability. Considering compression-ignition engines, the fuel change is simple and requires no modification. Yet some critical issues related to different fuel viscosity may arise. The aim of this study is, therefore, to investigate with a mixed experimental–numerical approach: (a) the kinematic viscosity of many fuel blends (diesel oil-biodiesel-bioethanol) at the standard temperatures of 40 °C and 100 °C, and (b) the effects of the fuel viscosity on engine performance. The data and the mathematical model obtained through the Response Surface Methodology allowed observing that: (a) the fuel-feed system should include a preheater to obtain the same fuel viscosity in blends as in pump diesel oil and avoid issues in the fuel feed; (b) the viscosity at 40 °C progressively increases by 38% (from 3.03 to 4.18 mm2 s−1) as the biodiesel percentage in the blend spans from 0 to 100%; (c) bioethanol fluidizes the blends, reducing the viscosity by about 2% per percentage point of bioethanol in the blend. Also, some trials on a farm tractor fuelled with some of these blends allowed to identify that ternary blends with a viscosity > 3.33 mm2 s−1, whatever the composition within the validity ranges of models (0 ≤ biodiesel ≤ 100, 0 ≤ bioethanol ≤ 3), give rise to the maximum torque increment.
Marco Bietresato; Anna Bolla; Carlo Caligiuri; Massimiliano Renzi; Fabrizio Mazzetto. The kinematic viscosity of conventional and bio-based fuel blends as a key parameter to indirectly estimate the performance of compression-ignition engines for agricultural purposes. Fuel 2021, 298, 120817 .
AMA StyleMarco Bietresato, Anna Bolla, Carlo Caligiuri, Massimiliano Renzi, Fabrizio Mazzetto. The kinematic viscosity of conventional and bio-based fuel blends as a key parameter to indirectly estimate the performance of compression-ignition engines for agricultural purposes. Fuel. 2021; 298 ():120817.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarco Bietresato; Anna Bolla; Carlo Caligiuri; Massimiliano Renzi; Fabrizio Mazzetto. 2021. "The kinematic viscosity of conventional and bio-based fuel blends as a key parameter to indirectly estimate the performance of compression-ignition engines for agricultural purposes." Fuel 298, no. : 120817.
In recent decades, agriculture has faced the fundamental challenge of needing to increase food production and quality in order to meet the requirements of a growing global population. Similarly, viticulture has also been undergoing change. Several countries are reducing their vineyard areas, and several others are increasing them. In addition, viticulture is moving towards higher altitudes and latitudes due to climate change. Furthermore, global warming is also exacerbating the incidence of fungal diseases in vineyards, forcing farmers to apply agrochemicals to preserve production yields and quality. The repeated application of copper (Cu)-based fungicides in conventional and organic farming has caused a stepwise accumulation of Cu in vineyard soils, posing environmental and toxicological threats. High Cu concentrations in soils can have multiple impacts on agricultural systems. In fact, it can (i) alter the chemical-physical properties of soils, thus compromising their fertility; (ii) induce toxicity phenomena in plants, producing detrimental effects on growth and productivity; and (iii) affect the microbial biodiversity of soils, thereby influencing some microbial-driven soil processes. However, several indirect (e.g., management of rhizosphere processes through intercropping and/or fertilization strategies) and direct (e.g., exploitation of vine resistant genotypes) strategies have been proposed to restrain Cu accumulation in soils. Furthermore, the application of precision and smart viticulture paradigms and their related technologies could allow a timely, localized and balanced distribution of agrochemicals to achieve the required goals. The present review highlights the necessity of applying multidisciplinary approaches to meet the requisites of sustainability demanded of modern viticulture.
Stefano Cesco; Youry Pii; Luigimaria Borruso; Guido Orzes; Paolo Lugli; Fabrizio Mazzetto; Giulio Genova; Marco Signorini; Gustavo Brunetto; Roberto Terzano; Gianpiero Vigani; Tanja Mimmo. A Smart and Sustainable Future for Viticulture Is Rooted in Soil: How to Face Cu Toxicity. Applied Sciences 2021, 11, 907 .
AMA StyleStefano Cesco, Youry Pii, Luigimaria Borruso, Guido Orzes, Paolo Lugli, Fabrizio Mazzetto, Giulio Genova, Marco Signorini, Gustavo Brunetto, Roberto Terzano, Gianpiero Vigani, Tanja Mimmo. A Smart and Sustainable Future for Viticulture Is Rooted in Soil: How to Face Cu Toxicity. Applied Sciences. 2021; 11 (3):907.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStefano Cesco; Youry Pii; Luigimaria Borruso; Guido Orzes; Paolo Lugli; Fabrizio Mazzetto; Giulio Genova; Marco Signorini; Gustavo Brunetto; Roberto Terzano; Gianpiero Vigani; Tanja Mimmo. 2021. "A Smart and Sustainable Future for Viticulture Is Rooted in Soil: How to Face Cu Toxicity." Applied Sciences 11, no. 3: 907.
Cable yarders are often the preferred harvesting system when extracting trees on steep terrain. While the practice of cable logging is well established, productivity is dependent on many stand and terrain variables. Being able to continuously monitor a cable yarder operation would provide the opportunity not only to manage and improve the system, but also to study the effect on operations in different conditions.This paper presents the results of an automated monitoring system that was developed and tested on a series of cable yarder operations. The system is based on the installation of a Geographical Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) onto the carriage, coupled with a data-logging unit and a data analysis program. The analysis program includes a set of algorithms able to transform the raw carriage movement data into detailed timing elements. Outputs include basic aspects such average extraction distance, average inhaul and outhaul carriage speed, but is also able to distinguish number of cycles, cycle time, as well as break the cycles into its distinct elements of outhaul, hook, inhaul and unhook.The system was tested in eight locations; four in thinning operations in Italy and four clear-cut operations in New Zealand, using three different rigging configuration of motorized slack-pulling, motorized grapple and North Bend. At all locations, a manual time and motion study was completed for comparison to the data produced by the newly developed automated system. Results showed that the system was able to identify 98% of the 369 cycles measured. The 8 cycles not detected were directly attributed to the loss of GNSS signal at two Italian sites with tree cover. For the remaining 361 cycles, the difference in gross cycle time was less than 1% and the overall accuracy for the separate elements of the cycle was less than 3% when considered at the rigging system level. The study showed that the data analyses system developed can readily convert GNSS data of the carriage movement into information useful for monitoring and studying cable yarding operations.
Raimondo Gallo; Rien Visser; Fabrizio Mazzetto. Developing an Automated Monitoring System for Cable Yarding Systems. Croatian journal of forest engineering 2021, 42, 1 .
AMA StyleRaimondo Gallo, Rien Visser, Fabrizio Mazzetto. Developing an Automated Monitoring System for Cable Yarding Systems. Croatian journal of forest engineering. 2021; 42 (2):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRaimondo Gallo; Rien Visser; Fabrizio Mazzetto. 2021. "Developing an Automated Monitoring System for Cable Yarding Systems." Croatian journal of forest engineering 42, no. 2: 1.
The stability of agricultural machines, earth-moving machines, snow-compaction machines and, in general, of all vehicles that may operate on sloping terrains is a very important technical feature and should not be underestimated. In fact, it is correlated, above all, to the safety of the operators, but also to the preservation of the structural integrity of these vehicles, to the prosecution of the activities and to the preservation of the economic investment. Although these facts are well-known, the international legislation and technical standards do not yet have a sufficient level of detail to give an all-inclusive quantification of the stability of the vehicle under examination in all its working conditions, e.g., at different inclination angles of the support surface, at different climbing angles of the vehicle on the slope, with different tires and inflating pressures, and on different terrains. Actual standards limit the stability tests to the experimental measurement of the lateral rollover angle only. Furthermore, the realization of unconventional test equipment able to widen the usually-tested scenarios could not be simple, due to the necessary size that such equipment should have (to perform tests not in scale) and to the related difficulties of handling full-scale vehicles. This work illustrates the applications of a new rig for testing the stability of vehicles, able to address all the above-illustrated issues and of possible future adoption to certify the stability performance of machines and perform homologations. This installation, named “rotating platform” or “turntable”, has the peculiarity of being able to move the machine positioned on it according to two rotational degrees of freedom: (1) overall inclination of the support plane, (2) rotation of the support plane around an axis perpendicular to the plane. The same installation is also designed to record the weight supported by each wheel of the machine placed on it (by means of four sensorized quadrants), both when the platform is motionless and while the above-described movements of tilt and rotation are being carried out, thus locating precisely the spatial position of the vehicle center of gravity. The presented physical-mathematical models highlight the great potential of this facility, anticipate the outcomes of the recordings that the experimenters will have at disposal when the test rig will be effectively active, and help the future understanding of trends of data, thus maximizing the available information content.
Marco Bietresato; Fabrizio Mazzetto. Stability Tests of Agricultural and Operating Machines by Means of an Installation Composed by a Rotating Platform (the “Turntable”) with Four Weighting Quadrants. Applied Sciences 2020, 10, 3786 .
AMA StyleMarco Bietresato, Fabrizio Mazzetto. Stability Tests of Agricultural and Operating Machines by Means of an Installation Composed by a Rotating Platform (the “Turntable”) with Four Weighting Quadrants. Applied Sciences. 2020; 10 (11):3786.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarco Bietresato; Fabrizio Mazzetto. 2020. "Stability Tests of Agricultural and Operating Machines by Means of an Installation Composed by a Rotating Platform (the “Turntable”) with Four Weighting Quadrants." Applied Sciences 10, no. 11: 3786.
Marco Bietresato; Francesco Selmo; Massimiliano Renzi; Fabrizio Mazzetto. Experimental problem of indirectly detecting engine torque delivered by agricultural machines through exhaust gas temperature. 20th International Scientific Conference Engineering for Rural Development Proceedings 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleMarco Bietresato, Francesco Selmo, Massimiliano Renzi, Fabrizio Mazzetto. Experimental problem of indirectly detecting engine torque delivered by agricultural machines through exhaust gas temperature. 20th International Scientific Conference Engineering for Rural Development Proceedings. 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarco Bietresato; Francesco Selmo; Massimiliano Renzi; Fabrizio Mazzetto. 2020. "Experimental problem of indirectly detecting engine torque delivered by agricultural machines through exhaust gas temperature." 20th International Scientific Conference Engineering for Rural Development Proceedings , no. : 1.
Smart Agriculture (SA) is an evolution of Precision Farming (PF). It has technological basis very close to the paradigms of Industry 4.0 (Ind-4.0), so that it is also often referred to as Agriculture 4.0. After the proposal of a brief historical examination that provides a conceptual frame to the above terms, the common aspects of SA and Ind-4.0 are analyzed. These are primarily to be found in the cognitive approaches of Knowledge Management 4.0 (KM4.0, the actual theoretical basis of Ind-4.0), which underlines the need to use Integrated Information Systems (IIS) to manage all the activity areas of any production system. Based upon an infological approach, “raw data” becomes “information” only when useful to (or actually used in) a decision-making process. Thus, an IIS must be always designed according to such a view, and KM4.0 conditions the way of collecting and processing data on farms, together with the “information precision” by which the production system is managed. Such precision needs, on their turn, depend on the hierarchical level and the “Macrodomain of Prevailing Interest” (MPI) related to each decision, where the latter identifies a predominant viewpoint through which a system can be analyzed according to a prevailing purpose. Four main MPIs are here proposed: (1) physical and chemical, (2) biological and ecological, (3) productive and hierarchical, and (4) economic and social. In each MPI, the quality of the knowledge depends on the cognitive level and the maturity of the methodological approaches there achieved. The reliability of information tends to decrease from the first to the fourth MPI; lower the reliability, larger the tolerance margins that a measurement systems must ensure. Some practical examples are then discussed, taking into account some IIS-monitoring solutions of increasing complexity in relation to information integration needs and related data fusion approaches. The analysis concludes with the proposal of new operational indications for the verification and certification of the reliability of the information on the entire decision-making chain.
Fabrizio Mazzetto; Raimondo Gallo; Pasqualina Sacco. Reflections and Methodological Proposals to Treat the Concept of “Information Precision” in Smart Agriculture Practices. Sensors 2020, 20, 2847 .
AMA StyleFabrizio Mazzetto, Raimondo Gallo, Pasqualina Sacco. Reflections and Methodological Proposals to Treat the Concept of “Information Precision” in Smart Agriculture Practices. Sensors. 2020; 20 (10):2847.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFabrizio Mazzetto; Raimondo Gallo; Pasqualina Sacco. 2020. "Reflections and Methodological Proposals to Treat the Concept of “Information Precision” in Smart Agriculture Practices." Sensors 20, no. 10: 2847.
In this study, a new rig for investigating the static and dynamic stability of agricultural machines was conceived: its architecture was studied and its layout was designed following a specific conceptual approach. The first part of the proposed design process specifically addresses the test equipment and follows a ‘top-down’ logic starting from the requisites of the tests to perform. This approach alternates analysis and synthesis phases and exploits two important principles of the creative design process: functional analysis and decomposition, and kinematic inversion. During this process, many solutions (kinematic mechanisms, actuators) were proposed and discussed based on their advantages and disadvantages towards the definition of an optimal configuration. Therefore, the layout of a new mechanical system has been developed, which is supposed to steer subsequent and more detailed design-phases appropriately. The proposed facility has many innovative features compared to traditional test systems, in which vehicles are tested for lateral overturning under static conditions with the steering components (wheels/central joint for conventional/articulated vehicles) usually in a configuration corresponding only to a straight-path trajectory. Indeed, the present test rig is a mechanical installation with three degrees of freedom. It presents a wide plane, which can be tilted, composed by two semi-platforms connected by a central articulation hinge, operated by hydraulic jacks which allow the different angulations of the semi-platforms. It is specifically thought for performing dynamic stability tests of vehicles, especially on circular trajectories. An additional subsystem embedded in one of the two semi-platforms, configured as a rotating platform (‘turntable’), can test the global (static) stability of motionless vehicles placed on it.
Marco Bietresato; Fabrizio Mazzetto. Definition of the Layout for a New Facility to Test the Static and Dynamic Stability of Agricultural Vehicles Operating on Sloping Grounds. Applied Sciences 2019, 9, 4135 .
AMA StyleMarco Bietresato, Fabrizio Mazzetto. Definition of the Layout for a New Facility to Test the Static and Dynamic Stability of Agricultural Vehicles Operating on Sloping Grounds. Applied Sciences. 2019; 9 (19):4135.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarco Bietresato; Fabrizio Mazzetto. 2019. "Definition of the Layout for a New Facility to Test the Static and Dynamic Stability of Agricultural Vehicles Operating on Sloping Grounds." Applied Sciences 9, no. 19: 4135.
The effect of biofuel blends on the engine performance and emissions of agricultural machines can be extremely complex to predict even if the properties and the effects of the pure substances in the blends can be sourced from the literature. Indeed, on the one hand, internal combustion engines (ICEs) have a high intrinsic operational complexity; on the other hand, biofuels show antithetic effects on engine performance and present positive or negative interactions that are difficult to determine a priori. This study applies the Response Surface Methodology (RSM), a numerical method typically applied in other disciplines (e.g., industrial engineering) and for other purposes (e.g., set-up of production machines), to analyse a large set of experimental data regarding the mechanical and environmental performances of an ICE used to power a farm tractor. The aim is twofold: i) to demonstrate the effectiveness of RSM in quantitatively assessing the effects of biofuels on a complex system like an ICE; ii) to supply easy-to-use correlations for the users to predict the effect of biofuel blends on performance and emissions of tractor engines. The methodology showed good prediction capabilities and yielded interesting outcomes. The effects of biofuel blends and physical fuel parameters were adopted to study the engine performance. Among all possible parameters depending on the fuel mixture, the viscosity of a fuel blend demonstrated a high statistical significance on some system responses directly related to the engine mechanical performances. This parameter can constitute an interesting indirect estimator of the mechanical performances of an engine fuelled with such blend, while it showed poor accuracy in predicting the emissions of the ICE (NOx, CO concentration and opacity of the exhaust gases) due to a higher influence of the chemical composition of the fuel blend on these parameters; rather, the blend composition showed a much higher accuracy in the assessment of the mechanical performance of the ICE.
Marco Bietresato; Carlo Caligiuri; Anna Bolla; Massimiliano Renzi; Fabrizio Mazzetto. Proposal of a Predictive Mixed Experimental- Numerical Approach for Assessing the Performance of Farm Tractor Engines Fuelled with Diesel- Biodiesel-Bioethanol Blends. Energies 2019, 12, 2287 .
AMA StyleMarco Bietresato, Carlo Caligiuri, Anna Bolla, Massimiliano Renzi, Fabrizio Mazzetto. Proposal of a Predictive Mixed Experimental- Numerical Approach for Assessing the Performance of Farm Tractor Engines Fuelled with Diesel- Biodiesel-Bioethanol Blends. Energies. 2019; 12 (12):2287.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarco Bietresato; Carlo Caligiuri; Anna Bolla; Massimiliano Renzi; Fabrizio Mazzetto. 2019. "Proposal of a Predictive Mixed Experimental- Numerical Approach for Assessing the Performance of Farm Tractor Engines Fuelled with Diesel- Biodiesel-Bioethanol Blends." Energies 12, no. 12: 2287.
After a comparative evaluation around the concepts of Industry 4.0, Precision Agriculture and Smart Farming, the paper discusses the necessity of identifying solutions able to apply the methods of the so-called Knowledge Management 4.0 in the agri-environmental enterprises. To this aim, an ontology based on a conceptual map derived from the data-to-information transformation is here proposed to support the design of a new generation of Farm Information Systems (FIS) able to fit the production needs of agri-environmental enterprises. The data-to-information cycle is split into four phases: A) Data collection, B) Data processing, C) Data analysis and evaluation, and D) Use of information. Phases A and D comprise tools of "light digitization" typically referring to OLTP components (On Line Transactional Processes). On their turn, phases B and C are typically formed by "heavy digitization" components (On Line Analytical Processes), generally more complicated to be managed by the farmers directly. The conceptual map defined by the ontology is firstly useful to plan the composition of the FIS according to a modular approach, possibly following a strategy that starts to consider the introduction of OLTP components, for then evolving gradually towards more articulated solutions that include also OLAP component and related functions. In this way, decision makers can manage practical planning instrument able to show clearly the level of complexity a FIS can reach, thus evaluating its sustainability with respect to the financial, cultural and professional resources available at the farm. Finally, after having underlined the opportunities offered by Cloud Computing and widespread connectivity, that provide an easier adoption of OLAP tools, some application cases are presented and discussed.
F Mazzetto; R Gallo; M Riedl; P Sacco. Proposal of an ontological approach to design and analyse farm information systems to support Precision Agriculture techniques. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 2019, 275, 012008 .
AMA StyleF Mazzetto, R Gallo, M Riedl, P Sacco. Proposal of an ontological approach to design and analyse farm information systems to support Precision Agriculture techniques. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. 2019; 275 (1):012008.
Chicago/Turabian StyleF Mazzetto; R Gallo; M Riedl; P Sacco. 2019. "Proposal of an ontological approach to design and analyse farm information systems to support Precision Agriculture techniques." IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 275, no. 1: 012008.
Summary An innovative approach for the automation of operational monitoring activities in agricultural and forestry tasks is described and discussed in this article. This approach can be considered as a solution for Precision Agriculture and Precision Forestry applications and can be used as an information and communication technology (ICT) tool for the management aims by a variety of agricultural and forestry companies. The aim of the proposed concept is to develop a system, composed of both hardware and software units, with the ability to collect and manage operative raw data and then to translate them into operational information that will be used in decision-making processes. All the procedures will be carried out automatically, in order to ensure an objective compilation of the field activity register. Thus, the entrepreneur will have all the operative information automatically updated in a dedicated database system. All the obtained documents can then be used for certification and traceability processes, if required by the procedural guideline, as well as to satisfy any other management tasks, including the estimation of the actual operative costs of the farm.
Raimondo Gallo; Giovanni Carabin; Renato Vidoni; Pasqualina Sacco; Fabrizio Mazzetto. Solutions for the automation of operational monitoring activities for agricultural and forestry tasks. Die Bodenkultur: Journal of Land Management, Food and Environment 2018, 69, 131 -140.
AMA StyleRaimondo Gallo, Giovanni Carabin, Renato Vidoni, Pasqualina Sacco, Fabrizio Mazzetto. Solutions for the automation of operational monitoring activities for agricultural and forestry tasks. Die Bodenkultur: Journal of Land Management, Food and Environment. 2018; 69 (3):131-140.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRaimondo Gallo; Giovanni Carabin; Renato Vidoni; Pasqualina Sacco; Fabrizio Mazzetto. 2018. "Solutions for the automation of operational monitoring activities for agricultural and forestry tasks." Die Bodenkultur: Journal of Land Management, Food and Environment 69, no. 3: 131-140.
Marco Bietresato; Fabrizio Mazzetto. Ideation, realization and experimentation of prototype device for measuring farm tractor fuel consumption during dyno tests. 17th International Scientific Conference Engineering for Rural Development 2018, 1 .
AMA StyleMarco Bietresato, Fabrizio Mazzetto. Ideation, realization and experimentation of prototype device for measuring farm tractor fuel consumption during dyno tests. 17th International Scientific Conference Engineering for Rural Development. 2018; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarco Bietresato; Fabrizio Mazzetto. 2018. "Ideation, realization and experimentation of prototype device for measuring farm tractor fuel consumption during dyno tests." 17th International Scientific Conference Engineering for Rural Development , no. : 1.
Using agricultural machines on slopes is very risky for operators: drivers difficultly have a correct perception of the stability condition of their...
Marco Bietresato; Fabrizio Mazzetto. Increasing the safety of agricultural machinery operating on sloping grounds by performing static and dynamic tests of stability on a new-concept facility. International Journal of Safety and Security Engineering 2018, 8, 77 -89.
AMA StyleMarco Bietresato, Fabrizio Mazzetto. Increasing the safety of agricultural machinery operating on sloping grounds by performing static and dynamic tests of stability on a new-concept facility. International Journal of Safety and Security Engineering. 2018; 8 (1):77-89.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarco Bietresato; Fabrizio Mazzetto. 2018. "Increasing the safety of agricultural machinery operating on sloping grounds by performing static and dynamic tests of stability on a new-concept facility." International Journal of Safety and Security Engineering 8, no. 1: 77-89.
G. Carabin; A. Gasparetto; F. Mazzetto; R. Vidoni. Design, implementation and validation of a stability model for articulated autonomous robotic systems. Robotics and Autonomous Systems 2016, 83, 158 -168.
AMA StyleG. Carabin, A. Gasparetto, F. Mazzetto, R. Vidoni. Design, implementation and validation of a stability model for articulated autonomous robotic systems. Robotics and Autonomous Systems. 2016; 83 ():158-168.
Chicago/Turabian StyleG. Carabin; A. Gasparetto; F. Mazzetto; R. Vidoni. 2016. "Design, implementation and validation of a stability model for articulated autonomous robotic systems." Robotics and Autonomous Systems 83, no. : 158-168.
When dealing with unmanned agricultural vehicles (remotely-controlled vehicles, robots), vision systems are a key-factor for implementing field-solutions having direct interactions with crops. Among all the possible information given by a vision system, the punctual estimation of the canopy volume is surely an interesting parameter: it is related to the crop vegetative status and, hence, it is fundamental for performing and setting-up properly some important field-operations (e.g., pruning/thinning, spraying). A system able to recognize the canopy volume can provide either the input-signals for implementing a robotic real-time site-specific farming system or relevant information for a proper crop management. However, there are many practical difficulties in the field implementation of such a system: complex canopy shapes, different colours, textures and illumination conditions with projected shadows. Terrestrial/aerial vision systems working on visible-light wavelengths and/or 2D-images of crops, although capable of excellent performances, have a computationally-heavy post-processing; therefore, they are unsuitable for implementing low-cost real-time servo-actuated cropping systems (e.g., robotised sprayers). Instead, a vision system composed by two LiDAR sensors aligned vertically, scanning the same targets, could give a sort of stereoscopic vision, here named “lateral-linear-stereoscopic vision”. The aim of this study is assessing the opportunity to use such a system on an automatic or autonomous/robotised implement by performing some preliminary tests in a controlled environment. The resulting system is independent of the lighting conditions (it works also in the dark), is highly reliable (no projected shadows) and data processing is very fast. Although further studies are required to overcome the issues that could arise in a future field implementation, this system has all the premises to be successfully embedded in an automatized monitoring system.
Marco Bietresato; Giovanni Carabin; Renato Vidoni; Alessandro Gasparetto; Fabrizio Mazzetto. Evaluation of a LiDAR-based 3D-stereoscopic vision system for crop-monitoring applications. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 2016, 124, 1 -13.
AMA StyleMarco Bietresato, Giovanni Carabin, Renato Vidoni, Alessandro Gasparetto, Fabrizio Mazzetto. Evaluation of a LiDAR-based 3D-stereoscopic vision system for crop-monitoring applications. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. 2016; 124 ():1-13.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarco Bietresato; Giovanni Carabin; Renato Vidoni; Alessandro Gasparetto; Fabrizio Mazzetto. 2016. "Evaluation of a LiDAR-based 3D-stereoscopic vision system for crop-monitoring applications." Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 124, no. : 1-13.
In hilly terrains, the exploitation of (semi-)autonomous systems able to travel nimbly and safely on different terrains and perform agricultural operations is still far from reality. In this perspective, the articulated 4-wheeled system, that shows an optimal steering capacity and the possibility to adapt to uneven terrains thanks to a passive degree of freedom on the central joint, is one of the most promising mobile wheeledrobot architectures. In thiswork, the instability of this robotic platform is evaluated in the two different conditions, i.e. phase I and phase II [1], and the effect of blocking the passive DoF of the central joint investigated in order to highlight possible stabilizing conditions and best manoeuvring practices for overturning avoidance. In order to do so, a quasi-static model of the robotic platform has been developed and implemented in a Matlab™ simulator thanks to which the different conditions have been studied. © Springer International 2016
R. Vidoni; Giovanni Carabin; A. Gasparetto; F. Mazzetto. Stability Analysis of an Articulated Agri-Robot Under Different Central Joint Conditions. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing 2015, 335 -346.
AMA StyleR. Vidoni, Giovanni Carabin, A. Gasparetto, F. Mazzetto. Stability Analysis of an Articulated Agri-Robot Under Different Central Joint Conditions. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing. 2015; ():335-346.
Chicago/Turabian StyleR. Vidoni; Giovanni Carabin; A. Gasparetto; F. Mazzetto. 2015. "Stability Analysis of an Articulated Agri-Robot Under Different Central Joint Conditions." Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing , no. : 335-346.
Progress in sensors, controllers and mechatronics devices and the development of (semi-)\ud autonomous systems that can travel safely on uneven terrain and perform many operations\ud has encouraged research interest in the use of robotics for agriculture and forestry in\ud hilly and mountainous terrains. Here, the main mobile configurations that are likely to be\ud used for robotic platforms as implement-carriers (3-wheeled, conventional/articulated 4-\ud wheeled, tracked) were reviewed and discussed in terms of their suitability for agricultural\ud operations and their stability. A numerical index accounting for the lateral stability of\ud a vehicle, the roll stability index, was used to indicate the in-field working capacity of these\ud platforms during side-slope operations. Assuming the same overall dimensions for all the\ud configurations, the 3-wheel configuration, although very simple and agile, was seen as\ud being the least stable, while a tracked vehicle was the most stable, although it had some\ud important drawbacks when used in an agricultural context. This drawbacks included\ud increased soil erosion and landslides caused by its tracks especially in the areas involving\ud turning manoeuvres. The articulated system was found to be the most suitable for uneven\ud and side-slope terrains because of its optimal steering capacity, agility and good stability. It\ud was found to reach a critical stability angle close to the 4-wheel vehicle
Renato Vidoni; Marco Bietresato; Alessandro Gasparetto; Fabrizio Mazzetto. Evaluation and stability comparison of different vehicle configurations for robotic agricultural operations on side-slopes. Biosystems Engineering 2015, 129, 197 -211.
AMA StyleRenato Vidoni, Marco Bietresato, Alessandro Gasparetto, Fabrizio Mazzetto. Evaluation and stability comparison of different vehicle configurations for robotic agricultural operations on side-slopes. Biosystems Engineering. 2015; 129 ():197-211.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRenato Vidoni; Marco Bietresato; Alessandro Gasparetto; Fabrizio Mazzetto. 2015. "Evaluation and stability comparison of different vehicle configurations for robotic agricultural operations on side-slopes." Biosystems Engineering 129, no. : 197-211.
Marco Bietresato; Giovanni Carabin; Renato Vidoni; Fabrizio Mazzetto; Alessandro Gasparetto. A parametric approach for evaluating the stability of agricultural tractors using implements during side-slope activities. Contemporary Engineering Sciences 2015, 8, 1289 -1309.
AMA StyleMarco Bietresato, Giovanni Carabin, Renato Vidoni, Fabrizio Mazzetto, Alessandro Gasparetto. A parametric approach for evaluating the stability of agricultural tractors using implements during side-slope activities. Contemporary Engineering Sciences. 2015; 8 ():1289-1309.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarco Bietresato; Giovanni Carabin; Renato Vidoni; Fabrizio Mazzetto; Alessandro Gasparetto. 2015. "A parametric approach for evaluating the stability of agricultural tractors using implements during side-slope activities." Contemporary Engineering Sciences 8, no. : 1289-1309.
This paper presents the topic of the management of livestock effluents and, therefore, nutrients (particularly N) in the framework of the biogas supply chain. The bio-refinery will be analyzed as a unique system, from the farm to the biomass produced and sent to anaerobic digestion, focusing on the fate/change of the flow of material and nutrients content through the system. Within four categories of farms considered in the article, integrated ones frequently have a breeding consistency from 90 to 320 heads, according to more extensive or intensive settings. These farms must manage from 3.62 to 12.81 m3 day−1 of slurry and from 11.40 to 40.34 kg day−1 of nitrogen (N) as the sum of excreta from all herd categories. By selecting a hypo-protein diet, a reduction of 10% and 24% for total effluent amount and for N excreted, respectively, can be achieved. Nitrogen can be reduced up to 45% if the crude protein content is limited and a further 0.23% if animals of similar ages, weights and (or) production or management are grouped and fed according to specific requirements. Integrated farms can implement farming activity with biogas production, possibly adding agricultural residues to the anaerobically-digested biomass. Average biogas yields for cattle effluents range from 200 to 400 m3 ton−1 VS (volatile solids). Values from 320 to 672 m3 day−1 of biogas can be produced, obtaining average values from 26 to 54.5 kWe (kilowatt-electric). This type of farm can well balance farm-production profit, environmental protection, animal husbandry well-being and energy self-sufficiency.
Francesca Nardin; Fabrizio Mazzetto. Mapping of Biomass Fluxes: A Method for Optimizing Biogas-Refinery of Livestock Effluents. Sustainability 2014, 6, 5920 -5940.
AMA StyleFrancesca Nardin, Fabrizio Mazzetto. Mapping of Biomass Fluxes: A Method for Optimizing Biogas-Refinery of Livestock Effluents. Sustainability. 2014; 6 (9):5920-5940.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesca Nardin; Fabrizio Mazzetto. 2014. "Mapping of Biomass Fluxes: A Method for Optimizing Biogas-Refinery of Livestock Effluents." Sustainability 6, no. 9: 5920-5940.
The TRAKTnet.one project aims to identify and develop new solutions to remotely monitor the efficiency of farm-tractors engines included in a local voluntary network. The knowledge of tractors’ efficiency can give important information concerning machines’ consumption, emissions and need for servicing, thus contributing to a more environmentally-sustainable agriculture. Engines will be monitored by measuring rpms, exhaust gas temperature and oxygen content (through lambda sensors) and then analysing and inferring the data through procedures, which algorithms will be an integral part of the project’s results. Trials will be performed on different engines and at different speeds/loads. The choice of the thermocouple type and installation point must be done carefully for not influencing sensitivity and response time. The final outcome of the project is expected to be an automatic system, based on an inference software-engine able to correctly interpreting the sensors outputs. The advantage of this proposal is to exploit a farm monitoring network, previously designed for managing the information related to the automatic compilation of records in the country, by simply equipping data loggers with two additional sensors.
Fabrizio Mazzetto; Marco Bietresato. Proposal of a local telemetry network for the monitoring the thermodynamic and environmental performances of farm tractors. Journal of Agricultural Engineering 2013, 44, 1 .
AMA StyleFabrizio Mazzetto, Marco Bietresato. Proposal of a local telemetry network for the monitoring the thermodynamic and environmental performances of farm tractors. Journal of Agricultural Engineering. 2013; 44 (2s):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFabrizio Mazzetto; Marco Bietresato. 2013. "Proposal of a local telemetry network for the monitoring the thermodynamic and environmental performances of farm tractors." Journal of Agricultural Engineering 44, no. 2s: 1.