Imagine building your own solar powered tractor! The Open Source Ecology Eco-Tractor workshop is an immersion experience where we will build a working tractor – and more – over a weekend.
Sign up for the course HERE!
Description:
A Microtractor: A tracked machine that is similar in functionality to a Toro Dingo brand utility machine but has more power. We will use a 16 hp Power Cube – our hydraulic power unit. Because our build system is modular, we can add a second Power Cube to this tractor for a total of 32 hp for more demanding tasks.
Tractor: A 32-64 hp tractor that is a larger version of the MicroTractor – using many of the same components. As the first team works on the Microtractor, a second team will work on a larger version of the tractor. We will use 2 of the same Power Cubes, for 32 hp. We can add 2 more, for a total of 64 hp.
Solar Module: The beauty of hydraulic power which we use to drive the tractor is that a small power source can still move a heavy machine – only slower. Thus, a 2000 lb or 6000 lb tractor can still move – and with as much force – on a single solar panel. As such, we will use a solar panel to run a small electric Power Cube – which runs the tractor. This will be our proof of concept that a tractor can do useful operations on
solar power – shining new light on the capacity of solar power to fuel agriculture. This leads to automation – where a slow-moving (3 feet per minute) tractor running on solar power can do useful work – such as weeding or pulling
chicken tractors.
You'll learn about solar power, charcoal power, and all of the bits and pieces you'll need to build your very own eco-tractor.
Sign up for the course HERE!
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