The design of a prototype system which controls the flow of milk in the collector’s column of an autonomous milking apparatus

University of Agriculture in Krakow, Faculty of Production and Power Engineering, ul. Balicka 116b Krakow, Poland

^* Corresponding author: marcin.tomasik@ur.krakow.pl

Abstract

The research paper presents a prototype system controlling the flow of milk in the collection column of an autonomous milking apparatus. In the Matlab®-Simulink program, the simulation model of such a system was created. Its essential operation is illustrated in the block diagrams. The logic verification of the model’s operational accuracy (off-line simulation) did not reveal errors. Therefore a laboratory stand for hardware verification – (on-line simulation) was developed. Within it a virtual feedback loop of the control system (stored in computer memory), with elements of real object control incorporated – in this way a prototype of the device was created. During the hardware verification of the proposed technical solution, operation errors were not observed. In response to certain signals from the measuring elements, the controller correctly calculated control signals for the actuators.