730030Variable transmission for lightweight, high speed farm machineryClosedLegacy RDA Grant for R&DInnovate UKBTDC has successfully carried out a feasibility study into the development of a new Infinitely Variable Transmission (IVT) for light weight farm machinety carrying out higher speed transportation tasks. These tasks include all farm work which could be carried out at higher speeds than conventional tractors. Such tasks cover transportation of farm goods and services on and off road, and in-field operations such as secondary cultivation, application of fertilisers, insecticides and herbicides, and harvesting. The breakdown of actual farm tractor usage shows that heavy cultivation, favouring heavy slow conventional tractors, accounts for a minority of tractor use (see Appendix 1), and that the majority of tasks would benefit from the features of higher speed and lower weight. Over the last decade there has been rising awareness of population growth, food security, and increasing scarcity (and cost) of other natural resources, highlighted by recent global crises, giving an extra emphasis to the belief that farming methods have to be reviewed and improved (see Appendix 2). BTDC proposed the development of a new high speed IVT for farm vehicles to promote improved efficiency by reducing weight, and providing entirely flexible transmission gearing. This combination addresses both damaging soil compaction (see Appendix 3), optimal control of a high range of working speeds, and improved fuel efficiency and productivity for farm machinery targeted at agricultural transport.