Safer Tractor Operations: Introduction

Diesel Fuel Consumption during Tractor Operations

Introduction Direct energy expenses (diesel, gasoline, propane, electricity) total more than $1 billion annually for Iowa’s farmers. Day-to-day farm management techniques such as adjusting tractor gear and throttle settings, making use of front-wheel-drive, and other strategies can reduce diesel fuel consumption for row crop production and general tractor operations. This study is being conduct...

A System for Semi-Autonomous Tractor Operations

Tractors are the workhorses of the modern farm. By automating these machines, we can increase the productivity, improve safety, and reduce costs for many agricultural operations. Many researchers have tested computer-controlled machines for farming, but few have investigated the larger issues such as how humans can supervise machines and work amongst them. In this paper, we present a system for...

Tractor ROPS and Stability Research: Introduction to this Special Issue.

Agricultural production has clearly benefited from the development of the tractor. The tractor provides a traction device and mobile power source. However, operating large equipment with high clearance on uneven ground leads to stability and overturn issues. Around the world, tractor overturns are still a leading cause of agricultural production fatalities. This special issue of the Journal of ...

Simulation Optimization Introduction: Optimization in Operations Research

Nonlinear Model Predictive Trajectory Control in Tractor-Trailer System for Parallel Guidance in Agricultural Field Operations

So called automatic guidance systems are becoming more common in agricultural tractors, so that a driver does not need to steer the vehicle. The systems are mostly relying on GPS with correction. However, these systems usually steer only the tractor itself, despite the fact that the implement is the one that has to be run side by side with the previous swath. With towed implements, or trailers,...