I. Research on the selection of means of transport and rationalization of transport

Research works conducted at the Department focus on supporting the planning and implementation of transport tasks. The research covers issues related to the optimization of the operation of transport means and the assessment of the impact of the transport tasks organization on reducing their negative impact on the natural environment. A computer system has been developed to support the creation and optimization of work schedules for means of transport. The system enables the analysis of the time in which the transport task is performed and the quality of this solution.

II. Transport safety issues

The research covers issues related to the role, features, classification and characteristics of transport against the background of the principles of operation and logistics of the security system. The research concerns the transport of hazardous materials by various means of transport and the related risks. The Department’s employees analyze the causes of road accidents and how to improve safety in Poland compared to other EU countries. Research works related to the safe transport of cargo and selected aspects of the functioning of public urban transport are also carried out.

III. Agricultural machinery working assemblies and production processes in agriculture

1. Development of assumptions for an expert system for agriculture

Research are aimed at developing an application controlling the processing of information contained in databases, which is the backbone of the designed expert system for cattle producers. The technologies of keeping and milking dairy cattle are considered in the designed modules of the expert system. The designed modular structure of the system enables its expansion with new elements of computer consulting. The created database management application provides the user with an overview of all possible animal keeping systems, milking technology with milk cooling devices and the selection of the most appropriate solutions based on the selected criteria. The operation of the system is successively verified in subsequent farms in the region of Central and Eastern Poland.

2. Optimization of the construction of agricultural assembly working units

Research work on the development of methods of optimizing the construction of agricultural assembly working units used in plant production with the use of computer methods. The classification of rotary working units of agricultural machines was made, regardless of their intended use and depending on the geometrical features resulting from the position of the rotation axis in relation to the established direction (machine or unit driving direction). This approach simplified the geometric-kinematic analysis of the movement itself. Appropriate computer software (Mathcad) was used to develop the analysis results. It turned out to be useful because the calculation procedures were repeated many times at the stage of assessing the quality of work and improving the existing structures, as well as at the stage of developing new solutions.

3. Laboratory tests of seeders for point sowing of vegetable seeds

Determination of the longitudinal non-uniformity of sowing, which is related to the measurement of the distance between the seeds sown on the working belt. In order to shorten the measurement time, a proprietary method was used, consisting in the analysis of photos of seeds sown on the station’s belt, taken with a Panasonic DMC-GF-6k camera using a developed computer software. The research confirmed the assumed goal. In laboratory tests performed on a Zwick/Roell Z 005 testing machine, the compressive strength of Urea and Superphosphate granules, as well as the static strength and the analysis of the sphericity degree of Yara Mila, Saletrzak 27, and Potassium salt fertilizers divided into fractions, was determined. 

1. Technical and technological conditions of sugar beet production in the region

The obtained results are the basis for assessing the production potential of the raw material base for the sugar industry and potentially for the energy sector, and can also be helpful in making rational decisions related to the maintenance of the market and farm development. This information will be important not only for growers, but also for the recipients of the raw material (distilleries, sugar factories, bioethanol plants).

The research is related to the use of a finger hump to separate lumps of soil and to the construction of a roller cleaning separator for potatoes. Cooperation: AKPIL Pilzno, PIMR Poznań, Institute of Agricultural Mechanization of the National Academy of Sciences in Belarus.

2. Soil tillage technology

Energy assessment, physical properties of soil and plant materials.