• Semester 2 (Day)

Synopsis

Machinery  is  an important component of any farming  system,  and  an
understanding   of   its  specification,  operating   principles   and
performance  is essential for engineers involved in agriculture.  This
unit  examines  the  functional requirements of the  major  groups  of
machinery  and investigates the engineering principles and  subsystems
which  underlie their operation. It develops the knowledge and  skills
necessary  to analyse and predict machine performance, and  to  advise
and  assist farmers in the choice and efficient operation  of  a  wide
range of machinery. It also includes discussion and analysis of recent
research and developments in precision farming

Tractor  stability, safety, testing and performance are  investigated,
and tillage, planting, spraying and harvesting machinery are described
and  analysed.  Methods for the rational selection  of  the  machinery
components  of  a farming system are outlined and used to  demonstrate
the effects of machinery choices on farm profitability. The design  of
machinery  subsystems such as power hydraulics and power  transmission
components  is  described.  The thermodynamics  of  grain  drying  and
controlled  environments  are investigated and  used  to  analyse  and
design  typical  systems. The unit uses field work with  tractors  and
other machinery to show how the theory is related to practice.