The quality indicators of commercial products depend on the type and technological parameters of the separating working units. The paper presents theoretical and experimental studies aimed at the intensification of harvesting root crops and onions. The authors have developed an algorithm and software for the control system of the drive for working units of a machine for harvesting root crops and onions. They also present a design of a machine equipped with a separating bar elevator with an adjustable tilting angle. The tilting angle of the bar elevator is automatically adjusted by means of electronically controlled electric cylinders (linear actuators) fixed to the frame. Based on the developed algorithm, expressions are presented to determine the relative change in the controlled movement of the working actuator, the nominal base resource, the load and the utilization factor. The developed machine will improve the harvesting quality of root crops and onions.

To obtain a high yield of various row crops, pneumatic seeder units operating at excess air pressure are widely used. The authors have developed a seeder unit with a universal metering system ensuring high precision of seeding with minimal damage and in compliance with seeding rates. The newly developed design of a pneumatic unit includes an original sowing disk, consisting of two rings with conical cells located sideways. One half-part of the sowing disk has a bar with a hole in the center to house the sowing disk shaft. The following parameters of the seeding disk parts have been set: the ring width - 18...20 mm, the upper diameter of the conical cell - 20...22 mm, the disk diameter - 200...220 mm. To remove seeds stuck during the operation and direct them to the furrow, a seed ejector made of a polymer material is installed at the bottom of the seeder unit. The universality of the proposed design is achieved by its ability to perform both single-grain and combined seeding. For this purpose, it is enough to rotate one ring in a circle, which makes it possible to change the method of seeding. The developed design of a pneumatic seeder unit with a combined seeding method will allow sowing seeds of two row crops both in a dotted and in a combined manner, ensuring high metering rates. The developed seeder unit will increase the yield of the grown crop by 10...15% due to the use of a rotating roller ejector made of polymeric material, which, as contrasted to the metal one, minimizes seed damage.

The paper considers some problems associated with the control and monitoring of automated machine milking by udder quarters: controlling a pulsating vacuum for each udder quarter; the need for a stimulating mode and its duration in each teat cup; choosing between the alternative pulsation mode and the main mode with a decrease in the milk flow rate for each udder quarter; determination of the lactation intensity in the quarter at which the teat cup should be disconnected from the vacuum. It was found that the transition to the main milking mode (pulsation frequency of 60 min^-1; a ratio of sucking / squeezing cycles of 70:30) is carried out at a minimum average stimulating milk flow rate equal to 0.2 kg/min. For cows with a low milk flow rate or with diseases of the sphincter and teats, or those previously suffering from mastitis, it is advisable to introduce a gentle milking mode before starting (60 min^-1; 50:50) and not to stimulate them. A control algorithm for quarter milking and control of this process is exemplified by milk flow curves and reference points of transition. The authors have developed models and obtained relationships that make it possible to determine the control parameters at the characteristic reference points of the udder-quarter milk yield curves in order to clarify the algorithms for controlling the milking processes of individual udder lobes in automated and robotic milking machines of a new generation.

To implement the technology of feeding cattle with total mixed rations, use is made of automatic feeding systems. Their distribution function is typically performed by an automatic feed wagon. The experience of operating these devices obtained by the "Lopotov A.N." farm located in the Pskov region has shown that, due to the uneven consumption of feed mixtures by animals along the feeding space, automatic feed wagons are almost not used in automatic operation mode. For this reason the design has been proposed of an automatic feed wagon with the system for estimating an amount of feed surpluses on the feeding table, which provides the distribution of a selected feeding rate. The aim of the study is to develop a methodology that allows the automatic feed wagon to be set to a selected feeding rate. The paper presents the design of the automatic feed wagon, the feeding rate of which is regulated by changing the speed of the longitudinal conveyor by means of a frequency converter. The authors propose a method of determining the maximum speed of the longitudinal conveyor to ensure the maximum feeding rate. In order to simplify the calculations the parameter of "a feeding space, along which the whole feed mixture is uniformly distributed from the automatic feed wagon hopper" has been introduced. The authors have obtained a relationship beween this parameter and the current frequency of the electric drive of the longitudinal conveyor. According to the developed method, the required current frequency should be set in an automatic mode. When a feeding program is made, the operator only is to input the corresponding value of the proposed parameter of "a feeding space..." for a known length of the feeding space, and the control block automatically sets the required current frequency, thereby ensuring the required feeding rate.

The problem of increasing the efficiency of young cattle raising can be addressed by designing the structural, technological, and functional schemes of automatic milk replacer preparation and calf feeding with robotic devices. Following the survey results of current cattle feeding systems and devices, a structural and technological scheme for the operation of the milk replacer feeding system was developed and a functional diagram of the automatic system for preparation and feeding of milk replacers with the use of a robotic tool was proposed. These schemes are designed to develop a rational technology for calf feeding to achieve the preset technological parameters providing improved production efficiency. The positioning system of the feeding robot strictly monitors and adjusts its route, and an integrated local control system monitors the processes and makes timely adjustments in a real-time mode. The development and application of systems, which include mobile robotic feeding systems, will minimize the use of manual labor, improve the quality of technological operations, and help respond to the import substitution challenge.

The paper gives assessment of the durability of high-wear working bodelementsies of technological equipment used in agricultural production. The authors have established the relationship between the wear of parts and elements of technological equipment (using the example of mixer blades of concrete-mortar complexes, actively used for the preparation of working mixtures for the construction of various industrial and technical facilities in the agricultural sector) and their geometric parameters and strength properties. They propose an algorithm to determine the wear of working elements of technological equipment by their coordinates using the method of group accounting of arguments, which provides for contactless diagnostics and prediction of failures of working elements for the period of the current operating time and choosing a method for their recovery. Accelerated wear tests of working elements of technological equipment were carried out using an abrasive mixture based on quartz sand and stone materials. It has been established that the use of aggregates of higher density and size leads to an increased wear rate of the mixer blades. The highest wear rate has been observed on the working and end edges; while the wear of the working surface along the blade thickness is insignificant. The wear distribution pattern along the length of the blades depends on the friction coefficient: when the friction coefficient is less than 0.17, the edges of the blade's working surface wear out most intensively, and when the coefficient is greater than 0.17, the maximum wear is observed in the middle part. The authors note that an increase in the number of working elements reduces their wear.

All power equipment componemts of electrified facilities, ranging from internal wiring, protection, control, metering equipment to converter devices, are exposed to the influences of the flows of switching-on and -off of electrical receivers (ER). These flows are the basis for the formation of electrical loads. The authors point out the notable similarity of the fluxes of ER inclusions with the known fluxes of events described in the theory of probability. It is shown that flows of ER inclusions feture stationarity, ordinariness and the absence of after-effect, due to which these flows can be considered the simplest ones. The registrams of electrical loads obtained with the help of recording ammeters were processed using the methods of probability theory and mathematical statistics. The flows of switching-on and -off of electric drives at the inputs of electrified objects and group distribution cabinets were analyzed in order to clarify the formation patterns of electrical loads. The authors considered flows of homogeneous events that differed only in the moments of their occurrence. Their paper contains experimental data that confirm the exponential distribution of time intervals between the moments of switching on the electric drive. It is proposed to estimate the degree of after-effect in the flows of ER switching-on using normalized Ehrlang flows. A quantitative assessment of the after-effect in the flows of ER switching-on makes it possible to distinguish these flows when analyzing their possible influences on the operation of the electrical equipment used in enterprises.

The movement of sprinklers is controlled with line synchronization devices based on an electromechanical device. Studies have shown that these devices have low reliability caused by short mechanical and electrical life of the limit switches. A failed electromechanical device causes the sprinkler to stop. A device based on an ultrasonic transceiver can be used to increase the reliability of the motion control system, as well as reduce the setup and adjustment time of its operation. The author proposes a device for determining the rotation angle of the section, which includes an ultrasonic transceiver, a reflector and a screen fixed on a gimbal-type hinge. When there is an angle between the vertical planes of the movable and fixed parts of the hinge, the distance between the ultrasonic transceiver and the reflector changes, thereby giving a signal to turn on (off) the electric drive. When comparing the energy consumption of the new and conventional control devices, the author found that the device based on the ultrasonic transceiver operates in a longer mode, since the distance between the transceiver and the reflector is monitored even in a standby mode. It has been established that with equal equivalent resistances of the considered devices and excellent rated voltages, it is possible to reduce energy consumption of the control system in 2.34...47.8 times.

Walking machines can be more effective as compared with wheeled and tracked vehicles when they travel along a rough landscape as they come into contact with the ground at separate points and cause less damage to agricultural crops. Machines of this type are applicable in open ground and in protected greenhouse conditions for an accurate monitoring of the condition of cultivated plants and such negative growth factors as weeds, pests, and diseases. A walking machine has a lot of sensors, which may cause some connection difficulties due the limitations of microcontrollers or the method of data transfer. The paper discusses optimization methods for increasing the transfer data rate of two types of sensors with different data buses. The author presents connection diagrams of the Dallas Semiconductor DS18B20 temperature sensors and weight sensors based on the HX711 chip. The paper describes a developed bench for testing a walking machine and presents an experimental walking machine. It has been experimentally established that six digital lines with bit-by-bit conversion to a digital value are quite sufficient for reading logical values at 80 Hz speed with 25-bit data packet. As a result of optimizing data transfer of the on-board computer with a large number of sensors, the speed of polling sensors increased in 30 times (from 30 seconds to an interval of less than one second). The suggested parallel method of data reading for load sensors has provided for simultaneous scanning of six sensors at a speed of up to 80 Hz, and up to 12 Hz for sequential scanning.

The paper analyzes the problems of training tractor drivers in the field of labor protection and occupational safety. The existing system of training in the field of labor protection is not effective enough and fails to make a noticeable impact on reducing the professional risks of tractor drivers. The author proves that all types of training and the development of training programs and methods in the field of industrial safety and health can not be carried out without taking into account the cognitive and psychological changes of agricultural workers of different age categories. Groups of students should be differentiated by the level of information perception and the mastery of information technologies. Teaching methods should be based on the principles of andragogy.To implement modern approaches to training, it is necessary to train and provide agricultural enterprises with competent specialists who meet the requirements of Profession Standard 40.054.

The authors reveal the core of the concept of "proctoring" as a process of monitoring and observing any distance test or exam. The main methods of performing proctoring are considered using the example of ProctorEdu: proctor as a person; auto-proctoring; person and program (combined version). The main areas of proctoring application include: recruitment, online training, testing and certification of personnel. Due to the transition of the study process to the distance format at Russian State Agrarian University - Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, there have appeared online exams, including state qualification exams, as well as the defense of final qualification works and conducting various olympiads and competitions using distance learning technologies. So proctoring has been widely used in this context. An analysis of the experience of conducting current assessment in academic courses, state final certification, as well as competitions and contests with school graduates conducted in a distance format made it possible to formulate pedagogical conditions for organizing proctoring: the availability of high-quality equipment and an Internet access for both subjects of the study process that would allow to carry out stable video and audio communication, as well as to record the assessment procedure, so that measures on reconsidering the exam results can be taken; the availability of software that would allow to implement auto-proctoring to reduce the load on the examiner and increase the objectivity and reliability of the procedure and diagnostic results; approval of regulations on the use of e-learning and distance learning technology, which clearly spell out all the relevant procedures and requirements, and fully informing students of all the peculiarities of the organization of assessment procedures; development of digital competence of distance learning teachers.

The paper analyzes ways to modernize the electric power infrastructure of rural facilities by designing intelligent power supply systems in the form of microgrids using several renewable sources of electricity. The study analyzes promising sources of electric energy in Russia and abroad, assesses the possibility of using each renewable source in the design of microgrids that form part of rural power supply systems. The authors propose an approach to design power supply microgrids for rural facilities based on renewable energy sources by using special equipment and devices - multicontact switching systems. The authors offer a list of measures that will allow designing power supply systems for rural consumers based on microgrids using renewable energy sources with high indicators of efficiency, reliability and quality of power supply for rural consumers.