Smart Traction – Design And Experimental Set up of a Track and Traction-Regulated Caterpillar-Track Chassis for Agricultural Tractor-Trailer Combinations

Large and heavy agricultural machines are not only a challenge for public roads (narrow paths/roads, damage to the road bank, social acceptance…), but to a greater degree, there is a necessity on the field for the chassis to interact as gently as possible with the soil, limiting unnecessary damage. A consistent focus on more soil protection, as prescribed, for example, by the Fertiliser Act in Germany and in other parts of Europe, requires further development of existing chassis concepts for the application of fertiliser to agricultural land. Modern caterpillar tracks are a space-saving means of realising large footprints whilst minimising ground pressure, provided the design of the chassis distributes the loads homogeneously across the area. However, when used in crops or on grassland, a large contact area is not always a positive feature. During turning, shearing forces act and cause shearing of the topsoil and the crop. This destroys the structure of the soil and either inhibits or completely prevents plant growth. To minimise this disadvantage, a new caterpillar-track chassis concept has been developed and will be validated. © 2022, VDI Verlag GMBH. All rights reserved.