Three results pertaining to lateral control of heavy duty vehicles on Automated Highway System are presented. First, a time domain, frequency domain and pole/zero analysis of the linearized model for lateral control of tractor-trailer vehicles is presented. The steering response subject to variation of speed, road adhesion and look-ahead distance is studied. Based on the analysis, a simple base...

Controller Area Network (CAN) bus is used on current agricultural equipment for in-vehicle communication among multiple microcontrollers. In this study, CAN data was collected from the tractor diagnostic port during three field operations: anhydrous ammonia (NH3) application, field cultivation, and planting. Specifically, CAN messages corresponding to engine fuel use rate were filtered, decoded...

PURPOSE This study used a randomized control design to evaluate the effectiveness of AgTeen, an in-home, family-based farm safety intervention, in decreasing extra riding on tractors by youth. Having children as extra riders on tractors has deep roots in farm culture, but it can result in serious injury or death. METHODS The study randomized 151 families into 3 groups: parent-led intervention...

This article reports on the implementation of published guidelines for retrofitting tractors with safe access platforms, which were developed to reduce the risk of serious injuries and deaths associated with mounting and dismounting. Farmer interviews and engineering-based inspections of ten retrofitted tractors were conducted to gather information regarding benefits and disadvantages of the re...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cost effectiveness of a 4.5 year education campaign that promoted farmers' adoption of rollover protective structures (ROPS) to prevent tractor overturn injuries. DESIGN Randomized controlled trial, decision analysis, and cost effectiveness analysis. SETTING One treatment county and one control county in the State of Kentucky. INTERVENTION A campaign by a local t...

Numerous advancements in machinery performance on row-crop agricultural tractors have been made in recent years. Currently, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) only tests predetermined points (E.g., max. power, max. torque) for drawbar and hydraulic power. This method of testing has been used for many years with the tractor at a steady state which is usually not ty...

A simulation model of a wheeled tractor was built using the multibody dynamics software RecurDyn. The model consisted of four wheels, front and rear axles, and a body frame. An interaction model between tires and soft soil was established using the Soil-tire module of RecurDyn. The simulations of displacement and force of the tires were conducted on 20° up-slope, 44° ultimate up-slope, 20° down...

We present here a new model for epithelial morphogenesis, which we call the 'cortical tractor model'. This model assumes that the motile activities of epithelial cells are similar to those of mesenchymal cells, with the added constraint that the cells in an epithelial sheet remain attached at their apical circumference. In particular, we assert that there is a time-averaged motion of cortical c...

.....................................................................................3 Adhesion vs. Elasticity...................................................................6 Cell Properties..............................................................................6 Optical Tweezers..........................................................................8 Our Proposed Device...............

Vehicle vibration exposure has been linked to chronic back pain and low back symptoms among agricultural tractor drivers. The objectives of this study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) were to assess driver whole body vibration (WBV) exposures and recommend interventions to reduce the risk of back related injuries, particularly relative to vehicle jarring/jolt...