E-Drive Units Solve Problem With Deere High Clearance Sprayers
The Spirit autonomous tractor may be on hold, but the company spirit is alive and well. Autonomous Tractor Corp. (Vol. 36, No. 5) originally set out to create a new, driverless tractor. Along the way, the company discovered that shifting farmers to a totally new concept was a bigger than expected challenge.
“The original design was a great concept,” says Kraig Schulz, Autonomous Tractor Corp. (ATC). “Automating the tractor wasn’t as big a problem as automating the many implements on the market.”
ATC decided to refocus its efforts on the e-drive components that had been developed for the tractor. They consist of electric drive wheels, an electronic transmission, and a 250 kW generator that installs on an existing engine. Two fiber optic lines can replace the entire wiring harness. The e-drive demonstrates significant cost savings and durability.
“OEM’s have no incentive to do what we are doing,” says Schulz. “It would impact their entire value chain.”
The company is looking at retrofitting large, older, conventional tractors and other equipment with the components. However, the initial effort is on hydraulic-driven sprayers because there is a high failure rate in the hydraulic drives of self-propelled sprayers.
“We are focusing first on Deere 4930’s,” says Schulz. “We can replace the hydraulic drives with e-drives for the same cost as rebuilding the originals. However, the user will see a savings of 40 to 50 percent on fuel and 60 percent or more on maintenance.”
He points out that the e-drive replaces extensive and expensive hydraulic lines as well as wheel motors. The hydraulic systems for the boom and the sprayer mechanisms will be retained. The generator simply replaces in-line pumps for front and rear wheels.
“Our electric motors plug into the same gearbox as the hydraulic ones do,” says Schulz. “Functionally, they do the same thing. The engine, cab controls, booms, wheels, etc. are untouched.”
ATC has 3 retailers signed up as initial dealers. One is in Saskatchewan, one in Montana and one in St. Louis. They are being trained in retrofitting the sprayers and will each have a demonstration model on hand by the end of the year. A regional manufacturer of the e-drive components is on board and beginning production. Schultz says the plan is to do a slow introduction.
“We will continue to work toward full autonomous functionality and introducing the e-drive into other equipment,” he says. “However, in the short term, we will be demonstrating the efficiencies and economies of e-drives. Any piece of equipment would be better with an e-drive.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Autonomous Tractor Corp., 5392 Quam Ave. N.E., St. Michael, Minn. 55376 (ph 203 993-0828; kraig@atcspirit.com; www.autonomoustractor.com).
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E-Drive Units Solve Problem With Deere High Clearance Sprayers SPRAYING Miscellaneous The Spirit autonomous tractor may be on hold but the company spirit is alive and well Autonomous Tractor Corp Vol 36 No 5 originally set out to create a new driverless tractor Along the way the company discovered that shifting farmers to a totally new concept was a bigger than expected challenge “The original design was a great concept ” says Kraig Schulz Autonomous Tractor Corp ATC “Automating the tractor wasn’t as big a problem as automating the many implements on the market ” ATC decided to refocus its efforts on the e-drive components that had been developed for the tractor They consist of electric drive wheels an electronic transmission and a 250 kW generator that installs on an existing engine Two fiber optic lines can replace the entire wiring harness The e-drive demonstrates significant cost savings and durability “OEM’s have no incentive to do what we are doing ” says Schulz “It would impact their entire value chain ” The company is looking at retrofitting large older conventional tractors and other equipment with the components However the initial effort is on hydraulic-driven sprayers because there is a high failure rate in the hydraulic drives of self-propelled sprayers “We are focusing first on Deere 4930’s ” says Schulz “We can replace the hydraulic drives with e-drives for the same cost as rebuilding the originals However the user will see a savings of 40 to 50 percent on fuel and 60 percent or more on maintenance ” He points out that the e-drive replaces extensive and expensive hydraulic lines as well as wheel motors The hydraulic systems for the boom and the sprayer mechanisms will be retained The generator simply replaces in-line pumps for front and rear wheels “Our electric motors plug into the same gearbox as the hydraulic ones do ” says Schulz “Functionally they do the same thing The engine cab controls booms wheels etc are untouched ” ATC has 3 retailers signed up as initial dealers One is in Saskatchewan one in Montana and one in St Louis They are being trained in retrofitting the sprayers and will each have a demonstration model on hand by the end of the year A regional manufacturer of the e-drive components is on board and beginning production Schultz says the plan is to do a slow introduction “We will continue to work toward full autonomous functionality and introducing the e-drive into other equipment ” he says “However in the short term we will be demonstrating the efficiencies and economies of e-drives Any piece of equipment would be better with an e-drive ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Autonomous Tractor Corp 5392 Quam Ave N E St Michael Minn 55376 ph 203 993-0828; kraig@atcspirit com; www autonomoustractor com
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