Energy consumption evaluation of soil tillage operation using non-linear multibody tractor and plough models implemented in real-time simulator for different soils and speeds

The integration of advanced technologies in agriculture, known as Agriculture 4.0, aims to optimize practices, enhance productivity, and improve sustainability. Despite significant advancements in precision agriculture, ploughing operations have seen limited technological growth, even though they a...

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Main Authors: Michele Vignati, Federico Cheli, Federico Biraghi, Marco E. Pezzola, Claudio Maroni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PAGEPress Publications 2025-08-01
Series:Journal of Agricultural Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.agroengineering.org/jae/article/view/1722
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author Michele Vignati
Federico Cheli
Federico Biraghi
Marco E. Pezzola
Claudio Maroni
author_facet Michele Vignati
Federico Cheli
Federico Biraghi
Marco E. Pezzola
Claudio Maroni
author_sort Michele Vignati
collection DOAJ
description The integration of advanced technologies in agriculture, known as Agriculture 4.0, aims to optimize practices, enhance productivity, and improve sustainability. Despite significant advancements in precision agriculture, ploughing operations have seen limited technological growth, even though they are among the most power-demanding and widely used soil preparation methods. Traditional on-field ploughing tests are irreversible, time-consuming, and costly, highlighting the need for a comprehensive virtual model of ploughing operations within a simulated environment. This study presents the development of a high-fidelity analytical model for ploughing, implemented in a real-time multibody simulation platform, both in software and Human-In-The-Loop (Hu-IL) configurations. The simulation environment incorporates a tractor model rigidly connected to the plough model, receiving contact forces from the field model. The model outputs vehicle dynamics information and ploughing operation data, allowing for operator inputs or simulated inputs. The model is used to perform a sensitivity analysis on ploughing parameters, including tractor speed, soil hardness, ploughing depth, and the number of furrows, to evaluate their impact on energy consumption and operational efficiency. In literature each component (tractor, plough, soil, etc.) is generally analyzed separately form the other; this paper aims to combine all the key factors that contribute to overall fuel consumption instead, considering the non-linearities of each subsystem.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 1974-7071
2239-6268
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher PAGEPress Publications
record_format Article
series Journal of Agricultural Engineering
spelling doaj-art-ecc9fbbb1e514a0aadada4f2acd920db2025-08-26T06:19:48ZengPAGEPress PublicationsJournal of Agricultural Engineering1974-70712239-62682025-08-0110.4081/jae.2025.1722Energy consumption evaluation of soil tillage operation using non-linear multibody tractor and plough models implemented in real-time simulator for different soils and speedsMichele Vignati0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8403-355XFederico Cheli1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9807-5056Federico Biraghi2Marco E. Pezzola3Claudio Maroni4Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, MilanDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, MilanDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, MilanSoluzioni Ingegneria SRL, LeccoSoluzioni Ingegneria SRL, Lecco The integration of advanced technologies in agriculture, known as Agriculture 4.0, aims to optimize practices, enhance productivity, and improve sustainability. Despite significant advancements in precision agriculture, ploughing operations have seen limited technological growth, even though they are among the most power-demanding and widely used soil preparation methods. Traditional on-field ploughing tests are irreversible, time-consuming, and costly, highlighting the need for a comprehensive virtual model of ploughing operations within a simulated environment. This study presents the development of a high-fidelity analytical model for ploughing, implemented in a real-time multibody simulation platform, both in software and Human-In-The-Loop (Hu-IL) configurations. The simulation environment incorporates a tractor model rigidly connected to the plough model, receiving contact forces from the field model. The model outputs vehicle dynamics information and ploughing operation data, allowing for operator inputs or simulated inputs. The model is used to perform a sensitivity analysis on ploughing parameters, including tractor speed, soil hardness, ploughing depth, and the number of furrows, to evaluate their impact on energy consumption and operational efficiency. In literature each component (tractor, plough, soil, etc.) is generally analyzed separately form the other; this paper aims to combine all the key factors that contribute to overall fuel consumption instead, considering the non-linearities of each subsystem. https://www.agroengineering.org/jae/article/view/1722Ploughingfuel consumptionreal-time simulationmultibodytire-soil contact
spellingShingle Michele Vignati
Federico Cheli
Federico Biraghi
Marco E. Pezzola
Claudio Maroni
Energy consumption evaluation of soil tillage operation using non-linear multibody tractor and plough models implemented in real-time simulator for different soils and speeds
Journal of Agricultural Engineering
Ploughing
fuel consumption
real-time simulation
multibody
tire-soil contact
title Energy consumption evaluation of soil tillage operation using non-linear multibody tractor and plough models implemented in real-time simulator for different soils and speeds
title_full Energy consumption evaluation of soil tillage operation using non-linear multibody tractor and plough models implemented in real-time simulator for different soils and speeds
title_fullStr Energy consumption evaluation of soil tillage operation using non-linear multibody tractor and plough models implemented in real-time simulator for different soils and speeds
title_full_unstemmed Energy consumption evaluation of soil tillage operation using non-linear multibody tractor and plough models implemented in real-time simulator for different soils and speeds
title_short Energy consumption evaluation of soil tillage operation using non-linear multibody tractor and plough models implemented in real-time simulator for different soils and speeds
title_sort energy consumption evaluation of soil tillage operation using non linear multibody tractor and plough models implemented in real time simulator for different soils and speeds
topic Ploughing
fuel consumption
real-time simulation
multibody
tire-soil contact
url https://www.agroengineering.org/jae/article/view/1722
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AT federicocheli energyconsumptionevaluationofsoiltillageoperationusingnonlinearmultibodytractorandploughmodelsimplementedinrealtimesimulatorfordifferentsoilsandspeeds
AT federicobiraghi energyconsumptionevaluationofsoiltillageoperationusingnonlinearmultibodytractorandploughmodelsimplementedinrealtimesimulatorfordifferentsoilsandspeeds
AT marcoepezzola energyconsumptionevaluationofsoiltillageoperationusingnonlinearmultibodytractorandploughmodelsimplementedinrealtimesimulatorfordifferentsoilsandspeeds
AT claudiomaroni energyconsumptionevaluationofsoiltillageoperationusingnonlinearmultibodytractorandploughmodelsimplementedinrealtimesimulatorfordifferentsoilsandspeeds