Development and Evaluation of Pasture Tree Cutting Robot

The encroachment of Eastern redcedar (ERC) (Juniperus virginiana L.) onto Great Plains prairies has become a serious threat to ecosystem functioning and grazing productivity. uncontrolled spread this invasive tree species been called »green glacier« converting grasslands into closed canopy woodlands. A pasture cutting robot was developed using tracked Autonomous Ground Vehicle (AGV) equipped with chainsaw bar mitigate green glacier dilemma. prototype fitted amperage voltage sensors measure average power consumption peak requirements cutting. It evaluated on ERC Honeylocust trees up 20 cm in diameter. Cutting energy time were determined evaluate optimization estimates. clearing the estimated for selected density/hectare. successful down intended size at manageable usage.