Traction and Ballasting Experiments Using Lego Mindstorms

摘要

In the agricultural machinery course at the University of Missouri, Lego Mindstorm kits are beenused to teach concepts of traction, ballasting, and autonomous vehicles to upper class students.Based on the first two year’s experience with an autonomous tractor pull, new methods havebeen developed to challenge students to gain an understanding ballasting and traction. Using apulling sled developed for the course, teams of students must collect data on their tractors usingdifferent tire, drive, and ballast configurations. The teams of students must write a report toevaluate the pulling performance of their vehicles and participate in a tractor pull with the rest ofthe class. Methods of constructing the pulling sled and conducting the tractor pull are described,along with the activities related to the classroom assignments.