EVALUATION OF LOGGING TRUCK STABILITY USING A PORTABLE MEASURING DEVICE

Abstract

The relevance of this research is driven by the high rollover risk associated with logging trucks operated in Ukraine. This risk is significantly amplified by specific factors: a structurally high center of mass, the installation of heavy manipulator equipment (e.g., Palfinger PK 15500A), the dynamic nature of the cargo (timber), and operation on complex- terrain forest roads. The predominant part of the vehicle fleet consists of outdated models (e.g., URAL-4320) that are not equipped with modern Electronic Stability Control (ESC/RSC) systems, and their retrofitting is economically unfeasible. The problem lies in the absence of affordable, portable advisory systems for safety monitoring and data collection for infrastructure risk analysis. The objective of this work is to design, prototype, and empirically validate a portable, low-cost device for real-time monitoring of a logging truck's lateral tilt angle, featuring driver warning functions and geospatial data logging. The research methodology includes the design of a hardware-software complex based on an ESP32 microcontroller, an MPU-6050 Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), and a NEO-6M GPS module. Field tests of the developed device were conducted on a URAL-4320 logging truck equipped with a Palfinger PK 15500A manipulator. A comparative analysis of two scenarios was performed along a test route: driving without a load and with a full timber load. The scientific novelty lies in the substantiation and empirical verification of the portable system's dual functionality: 1) as an advisory safety system for the driver; 2) as a tool for collecting objective empirical data (coordinates, speed, tilt angle) for mapping hazardous sections of forest roads, enabling proactive infrastructure risk management. The practical value of the work consists in creating an affordable technical solution for modernizing the outdated fleet of logging vehicles, which directly contributes to improving occupational safety in the logging industry.