Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
increase in gross vehicle weight (GVW). Take, for instance, a 55-T 2000 grain cart
where it is quite possible to see the GVW approaching 70 T for the loaded cart alone.
5.4 MACHINE LIFE AND OBSOLESCENCE
ASABE (2011) lists the anticipated life of agricultural tractors at 10,000 h. However,
some diesel engine manufacturers boast the development of million mile engines.
Assuming an average speed of 95 km/h, the expected life of an engine for line-
haul trucks is nearly 17,000 h. In reality, most farmers recognize and expect tractors
to last for more than 10,000 h. Farm magazines, chat rooms, blogs, and web sites
are replete with examples of tractors lasting well past the 20,000-h mark. Looking
at typical annual use, most Midwestern grain producers log approximately 500 h
of actual field time each year. If, in fact, we can expect a modern tractor life of
20,000 h, producers can expect to operate new equipment for 40 cropping seasons.
This reflects an entire career for most producers.
“Obsolescence” has been described by some as “an object, service or practice
that is no longer wanted even though it may still be in good working order.” Perhaps
a more descriptive term may be “technological obsolescence.” Technological obso-
lescence occurs with “the evolution of technology: as newer technologies appear,
older ones cease to be used.” Barreca (2000) discusses technological obsolescence
and concludes the following “when technological obsolescence is present, mortal-
ity rates increase with the passage of time. Reliance on past mortality experience
as the basis for future mortality patterns understates the true mortality of utility
property, understates the depreciation requirement, and overstates the remaining life
and value of the assets.” Although the author applied his analysis techniques to the
utility industry, one may argue they are applicable to agricultural production sectors
as well, especially given the current field production practices.
Given the rate at which new technologies are being developed, is it reasonable to
expect new tractors to become obsolete before the end of their physical life? In other
words, can we ever expect to fully utilize the capacity of what is being produced by
manufacturers today?
5.5 CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN FIELD
MACHINERY AUTOMATION
Existing and emerging technologies currently define the scope of what is possible
in the automation of agricultural field machinery. In the United States, infrastruc-
ture development continues to evolve such as densification of real-time kinematic
(RTK) GPS networks to generate Virtual Reference Station (VRS) correction data
along with Internet connectivity via Wi-Fi and wireless local area network (WLAN)
to support data transfer. Allied to the maturation of these technologies will be the
capacity to generate, communicate, and archive data in real time for control of
machine functions, and to support machine-to-machine communications and shar-
ing of this information for coordination of field activities. What follows is a brief
overview of the status of many of the allied technologies that will be essential for
continued automation of agricultural field machinery.
