AGRICULTURAL TRACTOR OVERTURN MITIGATION VIA AN OPERATOR ALERTING SYSTEM AND ACTIVE INTERVENTION
Open Access
Author:
Nichol, Corrie Ian
Graduate Program:
Mechanical Engineering
Degree:
Doctor of Philosophy
Document Type:
Dissertation
Date of Defense:
March 13, 2006
Committee Members:
H Joseph Sommer Iii, Committee Chair/Co-Chair Dennis J Murphy, Committee Member Richard Donovan Koubek, Committee Member Sean Brennan, Committee Member
A system was developed to sense proximity to side overturn for an agricultural
tractor. This system was tested, and a statistical analysis was performed on the
collected data.
The system was augmented with the addition of rate gyros and the augmented
system was able to intervene and prevent simple rearward overturn events.
A display was also developed to communicate information to tractor operators.
The development of this display included a study of existing display technologies,
recent research into automobile collision avoidance systems, and a survey of
agricultural tractor operators.
The results of the research show that this system can correctly predict side
overturn, and can sense and intervene to prevent rearward overturn. It is found
that this information is best communicated to the operator by means of an audible
alarm and a visual display.
Work is also presented on development of a similar system for four-wheel allterrain
vehicles (ATV). Proposals are made in regard to the development of a
future device for ATVs.
