Comparative assessment of alternate agricultural mechanization systems

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The general objective of the proposed research program is to develop and implement a framework and a methodology for the comparative assessment of alternate agricultural mechanization systems (AMS). The study will focus on three main categories of AMS: 1. Tractor-based systems, 2. Wide-span implement carrier systems and other AMS adapted to controlled-traffic farming systems, and 3. Systems that rely on fleets of autonomous vehicles. More specific AMS within each category (e.g., tractor-based system adapted to controlled-traffic requirements) will also be considered. Taking into account a number of crop production systems typical of North American agriculture (e.g., dairy, fruits and vegetables, grain and oilseed, mixed), the specific objectives of the proposed 5-year research program are as follows: 1. To identify specific criteria or sets of criteria for the evaluation of AMS; 2. To assess the relative importance of those criteria for different agricultural production systems; 3. To characterize AMS adapted to these crop production systems, and 4. To assess the performance of the different types of AMS in regards to each of these criteria or sets of criteria. The proposed research program is divided into three interdependent phases that will result into two Master's and one doctoral theses. The undergraduate and graduate students who will be involved in that work will acquire a unique expertise in the evaluation and assessment of alternate agricultural mechanization systems. These individuals will provide an important support for the future development and diversification of the Canadian and global agricultural machinery industry. Providing both the agriculture and agricultural machinery industries with the knowledge and the technologies that twenty-first century agriculture requires will directly contribute to their sustainable development and growth.