Hitch and PTO Test Unit
Instituut voor Landbouw-, Visserij- en Voedingsonderzoek (ILVO)
Country
Belgium
The hitch and PTO unit offers a unique and flexible way to test and improve smart implements including camera-controlled hoeing systems, weed lasers, and robotic weed pickers.
Configurations are tailored to each implement. For camera-controlled hoeing, we use a conveyor belt with distance sensors linked to an oscilloscope. A crop-representative object is placed on the belt to simulate working speed, enabling precise measurement of activation speed, delay, and accuracy. Distance sensors on both the conveyor belt and the hoeing knife detect true activation allowing a detailed view of activation speed, delay and accuracy on each crop plant. Advanced setups allow in-depth testing of AI-based recognition using screens that display simulated or real field data. Each implement benefits from a custom measurement system designed for accurate performance analysis.
