RUSSO, Edison.; CAPPELLI, Nelson Luis.; UMEZU, Claudio Kiyoshi.
Abstract:
Modern agriculture searches for new technologies for the application of nutrients with
greater precision. In order to achieve that, it has been necessary to develop more adequate machines,
with higher operation capacity and precision. Now a days, the development of such machines tends
towards automation and the introduction of embed electronic systems. The aim of this work was the
evaluation of an Interface Module (MDI) developed to be used in a system for application of liquid
products, proposed by the Control and Instrumentation Laboratory (LIC) from the Faculty of
Agricultural Engineering at Unicamp. The function of the MDI is to receive the information
proceeding from the Control Module, carry out the readings of the field sensors, process all this data
and command the peripherals involved in the application. In order to assure the precision of the
application, proportional valves, which have been developed by the LIC, activated by servo-motors
and controlled by modulated signals through pulse width (PWM), have been used. Due to the
limitations of the speeding process of micro-controllers and the cost of equipment, hardware and
software have been developed, aiming to optimize the functions performed by the MDI to enable the
operation with only one micro-controller. The results of the valuation have shown that the MDI has
surpassed the performance required by the application system of liquid nutrients.
