Usability of tractor-machine systems

The demands of precision agriculture have caused significant changes to agricultural machines. Improved sensor technology makes it possible to monitor numerous parameters. Access to GPS signals has made it possible to monitor the variation in yield within a field. Perhaps the most significant change is that access to the GPS signal has made it possible to develop guidance systems that provide accurate guidance information to the operator or even guide the agricultural machine for the operator. The rapid change in technology has significantly changed the role to be played by the human operator of the agricultural vehicle. Human factors principles are needed to understand how best to utilize the capabilities of the human operator in these new human‐machine systems. User-centered design will become increasingly important as agricultural machines become more automated.

Faculty Supervisor:

Dr. Danny Mann

Student:

Davood Karimi

Partner:

CNH Canada. Ltd.

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

University of Manitoba