Low - Cost Artificial Potato for Impact Force and Vibration Measurements

Abstract

Instrumented devices (ID) are useful for quantifying impact and vibration forces in postharvest supply chains of horticultural crops. In this study, a low-cost ID was developed capable of measuring impact force (G) and vibration. The ID was composed of an Adafruit Feather Adalogger microcontroller fitted with a triaxial accelerometer (± 200G range) shield and real-time clock stored time-stamped impact data in flash memory. A 3.7-volt lithium polymer battery served as the power source. The ID was encased in a semi-ellipsoidal shell fabricated from 3D-printed thermoplastic urethane (TPU95A) filament; the shell was printed at 25% fill density. The device weighed 80 g, which is representative of a medium-sized potato tuber. Drop tests showed a high correlation (R2 = 0923) between computed and measured peak acceleration in terms of G-force. The ID was tested by placing it in bulk-loaded potato tubers brought from Buguias to La Trinidad in Benguet province. GPS data was obtained using a mobile app to map the transport route and locate extreme impact events. Mean vibration of 1.18G intensity at 14Hz frequency was recorded throughout the 4 -hour trip. Impact forces ranging from 4.6G to 6.61G were measured at certain points during transport. The device was assembled from commercially-available microcontrollers, sensors and other electronic components; total cost of fabrication was 94-98% less than comparable devices available in the market.

Citation:

DACONES, R. J., PERALTA, E., SUMINISTRADO, D., & YAPTENCO, K. (2021). Low - Cost Artificial Potato for Impact Force and Vibration Measurements. Philippine Journal of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, 17(2), 49–61. https://doi.org/10.48196/017.02.2021.04