Fraunhofer Institute for Transportation and Infrastructure Systems IVI
Fraunhofer Institute for Transportation and Infrastructure Systems IVI

© Fraunhofer IVI

Solution for Transporting Mobile Work Machinery

Transporting agricultural robots safely and load-free

Today, field robots and mobile work machines provide tangible relief for farmers. One problem remains, however: Transporting machinery from the depot to the location of use is often costly, requires additional staff, and thus reduces efficiency gains. What is needed here are solutions that are practical, economical, easily integrated into the existing operating procedures of agricultural enterprises.

An economical and flexible solution for transporting driverless robots

For this purpose, Fraunhofer IVI have developed an electromechanical drawbar – an innovative, flexible transport solution that will make the day-to-day lives of farmers and service providers easier. With the drawbar, it is possible to directly couple a lead vehicle – a passenger car, pick-up truck or self-driving work machine – with a heavy follow vehicle such as a robot. No adaptation or retrofitting of the lead vehicle is required. This approach reduces costs, prevents registration problems and fully maintains the flexibility of the existing fleet.

Smart sensors, low effort

Visualization of functioning principle
© Fraunhofer IVI
Usage example of an electromechanical drawbar.

The drawbar uses on sensors to detect the lead vehicle's movements and transmits them to the follow vehicle. The robot will safely and reliably follow the path – without any great effort. The driver retains control at all times via a wireless display: from camera images and risk alerts to selecting special driving modes such as reverse driving or tight turning maneuvers.

Become our practice partner now

Currently, the drawbar is being tested in prototypes, with the clear intention of making the solution available for agricultural operations in the near future. We cordially invite interested businesses to test the technology in practical operations within joint pilot projects.

Advantages for farmers, machinery cooperations, and contractors - an overview

More flexibility

 

The solution allows transporting mobile work machinery even with a standard passenger car – no tractor or semi-trailer is required.

Moreover, no costly modifications of the lead vehicles are necessary. The need for lengthy and costly registration procedures is eliminated, resulting in cost savings and significantly greater flexibility for users in their day-to-day operations.

Less time lost during transport

 

Thanks to the electromechanical drawbar, an agricultural robot can easily be coupled to a light lead vehicle (car, pick-up truck) and does not need to be loaded onto a flatbed truck. This means that work machines will arrive much more quickly at their place of operation, so that they can carry our their work where they are needed: on fields.

Less staff required

 

Compared to other transport solutions, complicated loading and off-loading of robots is eliminated. Also, no specially trained staff is needed. This allows farmers to deploy their staff more flexibly and save valuable working time.

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