• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.36 no.6
• /
• pp.416-421
• /
• 2011

This study was initiated to prevent rear-end collision which causes the most frequent human damage by agricultural tractors. Therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate the luminous performance of a stop lamp for an agricultural tractor which could reduce rear-end collision. The performance test of luminous intensity distribution was conducted for a total of 12 tractor models classified by size (above 44 kW for large, 30~43 kW for medium, and below 29 kW for small) and production area (domestic, foreign manufacture) in accordance with Regulation No.7 of UNECE Vehicle Regulations-1958 Agreement considering ${\pm}$20 standard deviation. Three out of 5 large, 3 out of 4 medium, and all small tractors were resulted as inadequate for the test criterion. This study found that the luminous performance results were better as the size of agricultural tractors became bigger. One out of 4 foreign and 2 out of 8 domestic manufacturers were suitable for the test criterion, and overall no difference from the luminosity test results was observed between domestic and foreign manufacturers. In addition, the measuring points, HV, 5L, 5R, 5U and 5D with the minimal luminosity revealed flaws (80% of the proportion of faulty products). Therefore, it is urgent to improve the quality for measuring points (HV, 5U, 5L, 5R, 5D) of stop lamps to apply Regulation No. 7.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.8-14
• /
• 2009

When a farmer buys a tractor, the power size of a tractor is determined by various factors such as farm size, farmer's age, farming type, topographical area of farm. Relationships between tractor selection and these factors were found. Three regression models were developed to analyze the relationship. Those models were an OLS-1 model (based on 567 samples having tractors), an OLS-2 model, and a Tobit model (both based on the 1,941 samples). Regression analysis results showed that farm size and farmer's age affected selection of power size for all models at an 1% significance level. It was also shown that some farming types also had significant relationships with the tractor power size. Upland cultivating farmers and livestock farmers had larger tractors than rice cultivating farmers, while orchard farmers had smaller tractors. As for the topographical area, only middle area had significant difference with plain area. Farmers who had a rice-transplanter or a combine had larger tractors than those who didn't.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.158-165
• /
• 2014

Purpose: The objective of this paper was to compare test standards regarding the performance and safety of agricultural tractors to identify the differences in test conditions, measurement tolerances, and test procedures. Based on the comparison, some recommendations were proposed for possible revisions or improvements to current tractor test standards. Methods: The test standards and codes of major standards development organizations (SDOs), such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), EC type approval, and the board of actions of the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratories (NTTL), were selected and analyzed. Comparison of the test standards: The ISO provides references for fuel and lubricants for tractor tests, and the OECD provides additional measurements for calculating fuel consumption characteristics during the power take-off (PTO) tests. The ISO, EC type approval, and the ASABE provide PTO protective device and the safety requirements. During drawbar power tests, seven transmission ratios are selected for fully automatic transmissions, according to the OECD. In case of hydraulic lift tests, ISO 789-2 and OECD Code 2 advise the use of a static lift force, while SAE J283 advises the use of additional dynamic lift capacity tests for a better representation of in-field operations. The OECD, the ISO, and EC type approval determine the seat index point (SIP), whereas the ASABE determines the seat reference point (SRP) for roll-over protective structure (ROPS) tests. Diversified measurement tolerances were among the braking performance test standards. The European Union (EU) has developed daily limits for vibration exposures with adaptations from ISO 2631-1. Electromagnetic compatibility evaluations are emerging of high-efficiency tractors due to the long-term conformance to electromagnetic emissions and interferences. Comparisons of tractor test standards discussed in this paper are expected to provide useful information for tractor manufacturers and standards development personnel to improve the performance and safety test standards of tractors.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.21-33
• /
• 2014

Background: Significant technological development and changes happened in the tractor industries. Contrariwise, the test procedures of the major standard development organizations (SDO's) remained unchanged or with a little modification over the years, demanding new tractor test standards or improvement of existing ones for tractor performance, safety, and comfort. Purpose: This study focuses on reviewing the research trends regarding performance, safety and comfort evaluation of agricultural tractors. Based on this review, few recommendations were proposed to revise or improve the current test standards. Review: Tractor power take-off power test using the DC electric dynamometer reduced human error in the testing process and increased the accuracy of the test results. GPS signals were used to determine acceleration and converted into torque. High capacity double extended octagonal ring dynamometer has been designed to measure drawbar forces. Numerical optimization methodology has been used to design three-point hitch. Numerous technologies, driving strategies, and transmission characteristics are being considered for reducing emissions of gaseous and particulate pollutants. Engine emission control technology standards need to be revised to meet the exhaust regulations for agricultural tractors. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) program has been used to design Roll-Over Protective Structures (ROPS). Program and methodology has been presented for testing tractor brake systems. Whole-body vibration emission levels have been found to be very dependent upon the nature of field operation performed, and the test track techniques required development/adaptation to improve their suitability during standardized assessment. Emphasizes should be given to improve visibility and thermal environment inside the cab for tractor operator. Tractors need to be evaluated under electromagnetic compatibility test conditions due to large growing of electronic devices. Research trends reviewed in this paper can be considered for possible revision or improvement of tractor performance, safety, and comfort test standards.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.450-458
• /
• 2016

High performance small and mid-sized tractors are required for dryland and orchard operations. A power transmission system is the most important issue for the design of high performance tractors. Many operations, such as loading and lifting, use hydraulic power. In the present study, a hydraulic power transmission system for the 3-point hitch of a 50 kW narrow tractor was developed and its performance was evaluated. First, major components were designed based on target design parameters. Target operations were spraying, weeding, and transportation. Main design parameters were determined through mathematical calculation and computer simulation. The capacity of the hydraulic cylinder was calculated taking the lifting force required for the weight of the implements into consideration. Then, a prototype was fabricated. Major components were the lifting valve, hydraulic cylinder, and 3-point hitch. Finally, performance was evaluated through laboratory tests. Tests were conducted using load weights, lift arm sensor, and lift arm height from the ground. Test results showed that the lifting force was in the range of 23.5 - 29.4 kN. This force was greater than lifting forces of competing foreign tractors by 3.9 - 4.9 kN. These results satisfied the design target value of 20.6 kN, determined by survey of advanced foreign products. The prototype will be commercialized after revision based on various field tests. Improvement of reliability should be also achieved.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.441-449
• /
• 2016

Agricultural tractors are designed using the empirical method due to the difficulty of measuring precise load cycles under various working conditions and soil types. Especially, directly drives various tractor implements, the power take off (PTO) gear. Therefore, alternative design methods using gear design software are needed for the optimal design of tractors. The objective of this study is to simulate fatigue life of the PTO gear according to the operating point of the tractor engine. The PTO gear was made with SCr415 alloy steel with carburizing and quenching treatments. The fatigue life of the PTO gear was simulated by using bending and contact stress according to the torque of the load levels. The PTO gear simulation was conducted by the KISSsoft commercial software for gear analysis. Bending and contact stress were calculated by the ISO 6336:2006 Method A and B. The simulation of fatigue life was calculated by the Miner's cumulative damage law. The total fatigue life of tractors can be estimated to 3,420 hours; thus, 3,420 hours of fatigue life were used in the simulation of the PTO gear of tractors. The main simulation results showed that the maximum fatigue life of the PTO gear was infinite fatigue life at maximum engine power. Minimum fatigue life of the PTO gear was 19.61 hours at 70% of the maximum engine power. Fatigue life of the PTO gear changed according to load of tractor. Therefore, tractor work data is needed for optimal design of the PTO gear.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.211-223
• /
• 2013

In Korea, the location of yard tractors is figured out in real time by using RFID system in container terminals. However, even though the location recognition of RFID system works fine when transfer crane is in yard operation, there are some problems when container crane is in ship operation. That is because yard tractors come one by one to each transfer crane in an order, but yard tractors come in 4 lanes to the container crane, which makes the system impossible to recognize each yard tractor separately. Therefore, we developed the infrared-ray communication system which can recognize yard tractors accurately in not only in the yard operation of transfer crane but also in the ship operation of container crane in same way in this study. The result in this study showed constant number of recognition, and the range of recognition measures 5.7m in 25m distance. The range of recognition shown in this study is enough to recognize each yard tractor passing under container crane separately.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.201-210
• /
• 2019

This paper proposes the AMCS(Agricultural Machine Control System that distinguishes farms using satellite photos or drone photos of farms and controls the self-driving and operation of farm drones and tractors. The AMCS consists of the LSM(Local Server Module) which separates farm boundaries from sensor data and video image of drones and tractors, reads remote control commands from the main server, and then delivers remote control commands within the management area through the link with drones and tractor sprinklers and the PSM that sets a path for drones and tractors to move from the farm to the farm and to handle work at low cost and high efficiency inside the farm. As a result of AMCS performance analysis proposed in this paper, the PSM showed a performance improvement of about 100% over Dijkstra algorithm when setting the path from external starting point to the farm and a higher working efficiency about 13% than the existing path when setting the path inside the farm. Therefore, the PSM can control tractors and drones more efficiently than conventional methods.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.215-224
• /
• 2012

Purpose: This study was conducted to classify the energy efficiency of 131 tractor models tested during from 2006 to 2010 in Korea. Methods: Four sub-indexes were developed using the fuel consumptions at 60% and 90% of rated speed with partial loads and at pull speeds of 3.0 km/h and 7.5 km/h with maximum drawbar pull. Weighting factors of the sub-indexes were also considered to reflect the characteristics of tractor's actual working hours in Korea. Four sub-indexes were integrated into a classification index. Using the developed classification index, a five-classification system was made on the basis of normal distribution of tractors over the classification range. Percentage of $1^{st}$ grade interval was expected to be close to 15%, $2^{nd}$ grade 20%, $3^{rd}$ grade 30%, $4^{th}$ grade 20%, $5^{th}$ grade 15%. Results: Number of $1^{st}$ grade was 21, $2^{nd}$ grade 23, $3^{rd}$ grade 39, $4^{th}$ grade 33, $5^{th}$ grade 15 among 131 models. Conclusions: Classification index was developed by integrating four sub-indexes. By the classification method using developed index, distribution of classified tractors was acceptable for practical application.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.29 no.5 s.106
• /
• pp.441-450
• /
• 2004

This study was performed to estimate mid and long term demands of a tractor, a rice transplanter, a combine and a grain dryer by using logistic curve function and Markov chain model. Field survey was done to decide some parameters far logistic curve function and Markov chain model. Ceiling values of tractor and combine fer logistic curve function analysis were 209,280 and 85,607 respectively. Based on logistic curve function analysis, total number of tractors increased slightly during the period analysed. New demand for combine was found to be zero. Markov chain analysis was carried out with 2 scenarios. With the scenario 1(rice price $10\%$ down and current supporting policy by government), new demand for tractor was decreased gradually up to 700 unit in the year 2012. For combine, new demand was zero. Regardless of scenarios, the replacement demand was increased slightly after 2003. After then, the replacement demand is decreased after the certain time. Two analysis of logistic owe function and Markov chain model showed the similar trend in increase and decrease for total number of tractors and combines. However, the difference in numbers of tractors and combines between the results from 2 analysis got bigger as the time passed.