HYBRID-POWERED SEED COLLECTION MACHINE FOR DRYING YARDS

Abstract

This research aimed to develop and evaluate the efficiency of a hybrid-powered seed collection machine for use on drying yards, as well as to study user satisfaction. The developed machine consists of a 5.5-horsepower gasoline engine and a 48-volt 800-watt DC electric motor, powered by four 48-volt 24-ampere-hour batteries, along with a control system and display screen. The machine is capable of collecting rice, corn, and mung bean seeds and automatically filling them into sacks. The test results showed that in gasoline engine mode, the machine collected 30–33 kg of rice within 50–55 seconds, consuming 0.8 liters of fuel per hour. In hybrid mode, it collected 30–33 kg within 80–95 seconds, using 0.6 units of electricity per hour. The machine operated 2–3 times faster than manual labor, reduced fuel consumption by 35%, and caused seed damage of no more than 2%. The user satisfaction evaluation indicated a high level of satisfaction (x̄ = 4.23, S.D. = 0.63). The environmental impact aspect received the highest score (x̄ = 4.45), while design and weight received the lowest score (x̄ = 3.90). In conclusion, the hybrid-powered seed collection machine developed in this study effectively reduces labor and energy consumption, is environmentally friendly, and has gained high acceptance among farmers.