• Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.22-27
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• 2003

An autonomous tractor requires not only automatic steering (automatic guidance) but also automated control of tractor functions and implement operations. Examples of tractor functions include engine throttle, transmission speed, and 3-point hitch position. Implement operations include tillage, planting, and cultivating. This article provides an overview of a map-based methodology used for the implementation of autonomous field operations of agricultural tractors. The procedure for developing autonomous field operation maps were presented, and several important issues in the implementation of map-based autonomous operations were discussed. These issues included combining field operation maps, position offset, and real-time sensing and update of field operation maps.

• Journal of Drive and Control
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.27-36
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• 2020

The aim of this study is to design a simulation model for an electric All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) tractor to evaluate the performance of the selected component and agricultural work ability. The electric AWD tractor consists of four motors independently for each drive wheel, and each motor is combined with an engine generator, a battery pack, and reducers. The torque data of a 78 kW-class tractor was measured during plow tillage and driving operation to develop a workload cycle. A simulation model was developed by using commercial software, Simulation X, and it used the workload as the simulation condition. As a result of simulation analysis, the drive system, including an electric motor and reducers, was able to cope with high load during plow tillage. The SOC (State of Charge) level was influenced by the output power of the motor, and it was maintained in the range of 50~80%. The fuel consumed by the engine was about 18.23 L during working on a total of 8 fields. The electric AWD tractor was able to perform agricultural work for about 7 hours. In the future study, the electric AWD tractor will be developed reflecting the simulation condition. Research on the comparison between the simulation model and the electric AWD tractor should be performed.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.113-121
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• 2010

Land consolidation ratio for rice paddy fields reached to 64.7% as of 2008 in Korea, and this also accelerated automation of field machinery. Especially, research on autonomous tractors has been continuously conducted. Tillage is one of the labor-, energy-, and time-consuming field operations. Most important requirements for autonomous tractors would be travelling path planning and electronic system to control the tractor to follow the path. The instruction of computer was required to conduct the tillage operation in field with unmanned traveling tractor. This instruction was coincidently used in the control of the traveling path and the motion of tractor. The objectives of the study were 1) to characterize and model tillage operating sequence, turning pattern, and 2) to develop tillage path formation programs for autonomous tractor and evaluate the performance.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.183-194
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• 1999

Using the dynamic model and simulation program TDA developed in the previous paper, effects of design parameters of an agricultural tractor-trailer system on its vertical seat vibrations were investigated. The tractor-trailer system was excited by traversing over a half-sine bump. The excitation frequencies were determined by traveling velocity of the tractor and a half-sine bump selected appropriately. TDA predicted the autospectra of the vertical seat accelerations with different values of design parameters and compared them to analyze their effects. The design parameters included positions of engine, cab, and seat mountings as well as their dynamic properties. The results of this study suggested guidelines with which an improved structure of tractor may be developed in the early stage of design for a better ride quality.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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• 1993.10a
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• pp.1212-1221
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• 1993

The shape optimization procedure applying finite element method was carried out for the specific purpose of analysis of a tractor chassis frame. Minimization of the mass as an objective function is executed under multiple constrained conditions of nodal displacements and stresses. The optimization process executions were succeeded in converging into single optimum solution. Although mass reduction and stress alleviation were attained by 40% and 26 to 24% respectively , the geometry of the shape is so complicated for fabrication that the refinement of the geometry is of necessity.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.325-330
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• 2009

This study was performed to develop accelerated life test methods for agricultural tractor transmission receiving variable load. To acquire parameters for calculation of accelerated life test, endurance tests were performed under different torque conditions. Test results showed that the shape factor of Weibull distribution was 1.5 and fatigue damage exponent was 5.4. The calculated test time was 5,877 hours under the conditions of average life (MTBF) 3,000 hours and 90% reliability for one test sample. According to the linear cumulative damage rule, test time could be reduced using increased test load. Test time could be reduced by 252 hours when 1.2 times of the rated load compared with 0.67 times of the rated equivalent load calculated by load spectrum of the agricultural tractor. Calculated acceleration coefficient was 23.3.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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• 2001.02a
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• pp.16-21
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• 2001

The ride quality of agricultural tractor seats is evaluated based on the vibration of the human bodies. Tractor ride vibration levels have been measured at the person-seat interface along 7 axes(3 translational axes at the feet, 3 translational axes on a seat surface and 1 axis at the seat back), under different operating conditions. Since one of the most important parameters for ride comfort is the level and duration of the root mean square acceleration experienced, the ride values, such as the seat effective amplitude transmissibility, the component ride value, and the overall ride value based on acceleration root mean square are evaluated for a conventional tractor using frequency weighting functions and axis multiplying factors. The ride indices are also studied considering to the variation of vehicle speed and road profile.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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• 1993.10a
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• pp.1157-1165
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• 1993

The influence of tire characteristics is investigated by the simulation of an agricultural tractor. First the simulation of the tire is discussed. Different models are proposed and evaluated on their validity and their applicability . Also the practical measurement of some parameters is discussed. In a second paragraph the tractor model used in presented. In a second paragraph the tractor model used is presented. In the third part some results of the simulation are communicated . Beside the normal motions along and around the lateral axis, special attention is attracted on the hop. But one of the conclusions is that the simulation of hop is not possible without non-linear elements.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2011.10a
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• pp.749-753
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• 2011

The vibration that occurs when starting the agricultural tractor is raised more than double compared to the general situation. In this case, impulsive vibration make the machine's life to be shortened, which can cause a driver's physical problems also. Therefore, in this paper, we have taken an effective way to reduce the impulsive vibration that occurs when starting a agricultural tractor. As a result, we confirmed that appling the anti-vibration pads and the high stiffness engine mounts is effective method to reduce the impulsive vibration.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.371-380
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• 2002

The objectives of this study were to analyze gear rattle in a power drive line using its dynamic model and to derive design guidelines to eliminate it. A 72 degrees of freedom model of power driveline of an agricultural tractor was developed and proved to be valid fer predicting the collision characteristics of gears in mesh, which may determine whether or not the gear rattle will occur. Using the model the effects on the rattle of drag torque, backlash, mass moment of inertia, transmitting torque were analyzed. Increasing drag torque or decreasing mass moment of inertia reduced gear rattle. The gears transmitting power do not develop rattles. It was also found that a large amount of rattle is likely to be developed by the change gears placed at the end of idle shafts. Increasing the drag torque to such change gears may be the most effective way of reducing the gear rattle in a tractor driveline.