Topographic Mapping Through Measurement of Vehicle Attitude
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Since 1905, the Department of Agricultural Engineering, now the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE), has been a leader in providing engineering solutions to agricultural problems in the United States and the world. The department’s original mission was to mechanize agriculture. That mission has evolved to encompass a global view of the entire food production system–the wise management of natural resources in the production, processing, storage, handling, and use of food fiber and other biological products.
History
In 1905 Agricultural Engineering was recognized as a subdivision of the Department of Agronomy, and in 1907 it was recognized as a unique department. It was renamed the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering in 1990. The department merged with the Department of Industrial Education and Technology in 2004.
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1905–present
Historical Names
- Department of Agricultural Engineering (1907–1990)
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- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (parent college)
- College of Engineering (parent college)
- Department of Industrial Education and Technology, (merged, 2004)
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Abstract
A self-propelled agricultural sprayer was equipped with four RTK DGPS receivers, and an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) to measure vehicle attitude and field elevation as the vehicle was driven across a field. Data was collected in a stop-and-go fashion at 3.05 m (10 ft) intervals, as well as in a continuous fashion at three different speed levels. Using ordinary kriging, surface grids were interpolated using only elevation measurement, as well as combinations of elevation and vehicle attitude measurements. The resulting surfaces were compared to each other to evaluate the effect of including attitude measurement on DEM (Digital Elevation Model) accuracy. At the widest row spacing, the DEMs generated with attitude measurements had lower RMSE than those DEMs generated without attitude measurements. Vehicle speed also affected DEM accuracy. Vehicle attitude measurements have the potential to improve DEM accuracy for larger swath widths in ordinary field operations.