Predicting the Power Requirement of Agricultural Machinery Using ANN and Regression Models and the Optimization of Parameters Using an ANN–PSO Technique

Abstract

Optimizing the design and operational parameters for tillage tools is crucial for improved performance. Recently, artificial intelligence approaches, like ANN with learning capabilities, have gained attention for cost-effective and timely problem solving. Soil-bin experiments were conducted and data were used to develop ANN and regression models using gang angle, velocity ratio, soil CI, and depth as input parameters, while tractor equivalent PTO (PTOeq) power was used as an output. Both models were trained with a randomly selected 90% of the data, reserving 10% for testing purposes. In regression, models were iteratively fitted using nonlinear least-squares optimization. The ANN model utilized a multilayer feed-forward network with a backpropagation algorithm. The comparative performance of both models was evaluated in terms of R2 and mean square error (MSE). The ANN model outperformed the regression model in the training, testing, and validation phases. A well-trained ANN model was integrated with the particle-swarm optimization (PSO) technique for optimization of the operational parameters. The optimized configuration featured a 36.6° gang angle, 0.50 MPa CI, 100 mm depth, and 3.90 velocity ratio for a predicted tractor PTOeq power of 3.36 kW against an actual value of 3.45 kW. ANN–PSO predicted the optimal parameters with a variation between the predicted and the actual tractor PTOeq power within ±6.85%.