Using high-frequency accelerometer to detect machine tilt

The use of full-mechanized harvesting systems is limited by terrain factors, such as very steep slopes and roughness terrain. Focusing on salvage logging conditions, forest operations are characterized by high costs and reduced productivity, as well as in terms of safety. This work aims to identify and compare the relation between the machine tilt and ground slope and the effect in different harvesters and forwarders, based on the technology and type of machine. In particular, the machines involved in this study are a harvester and forwarder working in the specific condition of salvage logging in windthrow areas. High-frequency 3-axis accelerometers and a GNSS sensor were used to monitoring in continuous tilt and motion of the machines. From the position detected by the GNSS sensor, the ground slope was obtained. The results report that the correlation between the machine tilt and ground slope depends on the type of the machine and technology. The high-frequency 3-axis accelerometer results are affordable to detect an accurate machine tilt showing the possibility to use the combination of different low-cost sensors to analyze the operation condition of forest machines in complex terrain.