How Much Lightweight Design Does Agricultural Technology Need?

The increase in productivity through mechanization and, since the 1990s, also through automation, has led to very powerful mechatronic machine systems that are comfortable to operate, but which basically derive their higher productivity from the increase in process areas and process speeds. The engine power required had to grow accordingly. Taking a look back to the emergence of self-propelled machines in the 1960s, the engine power of forage harvesters has increased by an average of 10 to 12 kW per year since then (combine harvesters 7 to 9 kW per year). Although automation helps to be able to utilize the technically installed performance, it has not been able to stop or reverse the trend toward further growth in size. The development paradigm of agricultural technology is based on constant growth combined with dimensions and dead weights reaching their limits, while at the same time the gap between lower and upper performance range is getting larger. As crop production is intensified by more powerful but also larger and heavier machines, the encroachment on existing ecosystems increases with negative side effects as we know. In addition, development and production costs of machines are rising to ensure road approval and to equip the machines with soil-conserving undercarriages. …