Remote-Controlled Grain Cart

Remote-Controlled Grain Cart GRAIN HANDLING Wagons (63E) 26-1-19 FARM SHOW first told you about Louis Vaessen's self-propelled grain cart a couple years ago (Vol. 24, No. 1). He recently added remote controls to the rig. He uses a model airplane controller to control the throttle, engage the transmission, and to steer it wherever he wants it to go. The cart was built on the chassis of an IH 815 combine fitted with a home-built 400-bu. grain tank. After using it for a couple years, Vaessen got to thinking that he could eliminate a driver if he could control the unit himself. Many of his fields are long and straight û with rows as long as 3/4 mile. Vaessen used automotive power window motors to operate the throttle and transmission controls. The steering wheel is turned by a Tri-R Robotic driver û a small rubber wheel that runs against the steering wheel. The Tri-R system is normally used to self-steer tractors and combines, via sensors that follow the row. Vaessen simply converted it to take "orders" from the model airplane controler. Spring-loaded switches on the front axle (similar to refrigerator light buttons) keep the cart running straight until Vaessen activates the steering unit. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Louis Vaessen, 1925 Maytown Rd., Sublette, Ill. 61367 (ph 815 849-5533).

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