DEVELOPMENT OF A HOVERCRAFT PROTOTYPE AS AGRICULTURAL WEED CONTROL TOOL

• Main Author: Raihan Priana, Muhammad
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Teknik (Rekayasa, enjinering dan kegiatan berkaitan)
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/79576
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

In 2022, the agricultural sector in Indonesia exhibited a positive growth of 2.25%, making a significant contribution of 12.4% to the national GDP. However, production efficiency challenges remain a primary concern. The country's biodiversity and extensive agricultural land offer substantial growth potential. Nevertheless, the presence of weeds in agricultural areas poses a major obstacle that can decrease both the quantity and quality of harvests. Weeds compete with cultivated crops for resources, leading to a reduction in yields by up to 17.8% for certain crops. Weed control is a crucial step in agriculture. This research introduces an innovative solution by integrating hovercraft technology into weed control in rice fields, particularly in farming systems employing the row planting method. In this undergraduate thesis, the author has further developed a mini hovercraft previously created in a prior study by incorporating weed control features and an automatic control system. The design process begins with identifying the requirements based on the operational conditions in the paddy fields, followed by analytical calculations. The obtained parameters are utilized to determine suitable components. The author has conducted CAD modeling and then the manufacturing process of the prototype itself. The final outcome of this thesis is a prototype of weed-cutting device mounted on the mini hovercraft that is equipped with an automatic control system. The author conducted tests to analyze the performance of the constructed hovercraft. The test results indicate that the hovercraft can operate according to the designed specifications