Development and Evaluation of Pasture Tree Cutting Robot: Proof-of-Concept Study

The encroachment of Eastern redcedar (ERC) (Juniperus virginiana L.) onto Great Plains prairies has become a serious threat to ecosystem functioning and grazing productivity. The uncontrolled spread of this invasive tree species has been called a »green glacier« converting grasslands into closed canopy woodlands. A pasture tree cutting robot was developed using a tracked Autonomous Ground Vehicle (AGV) equipped with a chainsaw bar to mitigate this green glacier dilemma. The prototype was fitted with amperage and voltage sensors to measure average power consumption and peak power requirements of tree cutting. It was evaluated on ERC and Honeylocust trees up to 20 cm in diameter. Cutting energy and time were determined to evaluate energy optimization and cutting time estimates. A pasture tree clearing energy consumption of the developed prototype was estimated for selected tree density/hectare. The prototype robot was successful in cutting down the intended size trees at a manageable power usage

Industrial Agriculture and Ape Conservation

This second volume in an important series examines the interface between ape conservation and industrial agriculture, presenting original research as well as topical case studies. It aims to influence debate, practice and policy for a broad range of policy makers, industry experts, decision makers, academics, researchers and NGOs. This title is also available as Open Access via Cambridge Books Online