Performance evaluation of a commercial tractor stability control system

The study takes origin from the increasing development of aftermarket devices to evaluate tractor rollover risk on the basis of dynamic parameters detected by sensors. Aim of the research was a tractors rollover risk assessment in normal field operation, using a commercial device to evaluate the activities at higher rollover risk for the agricultural operators. Five tractors used in the experimental farm of the Bologna University were monitored in the 2013 year. Each tractor was equipped with a stability control system based on a hardware multisensory device, a software risk index algorithm and an integrated position information system for tractor localizing. The detected parameters and tractors position were accessible via a dedicated web site. Fourteen transceivers were connected to implements for recognition when coupled to the tractor. Preliminary tests demonstrated that the tilt sensors used in the device did not provide high performance when the tractors were subjected to sudden operative changes. The risk assessment, in fact, was based on a quasi-static evaluation of stability conditions. On the other hand the device seemed suitable to monitor dangerous practices in the normal operation of the tractor; the system could represent a good tool to educate unskilled drivers, becoming an acceptable compromise between safety evaluation and farm management. Among the monitored operations the liquid manure spreading and the round baling were the ones at highest risk, while plough and rotary harrow were considered as tractor stabilizers.