VKTOR
Autonomous Farming Vehicle
Featured by DesignBoom , Design Wanted , Automotive Design Planet
Selected as Best Thesis Project for Product Design by IAAD - Istituto d'Arte Applicata e Design 2022-2023
Thesis project by Alessandro Pennese
Supervisors WA+CH Studio & Tommaso Caldera
IAAD Product Design BA Degree - Final Thesis
June 2023
VKTOR
The project focuses on the design of an autonomous electric vehicle system for managing a farm and its logistical organization, with the aim of increasing efficiency and productivity, reducing operating costs and improving crop quality. In addition, the project aims to replace manual labor with machine labor, improving employees' working conditions and increasing safety on the farm. The vector, so called because it serves as a means of transport for agricultural machinery and products, is equipped with a single central track moved by a wheel motor. The vector is capable of hooking up and transporting, throughout the field and farm space, machinery of different weights and sizes, taking advantage of the ability to couple and work individually or in synchrony with identical modules.
The track offers advantages over the wheel: it reduces pressure on the ground and, on deformable and poorly compacted surfaces, it increases grip.
Tracked vehicles generally have greater mobility than those with tires on rough terrain, as they reduce jolting by passing over smaller obstacles. In addition, tracks are more durable than tires in that they cannot burst or be punctured.
The Drive Wheel (Pinion) consists of a motor wheel.
At the opposite end of the track is a wheel on which no the motor wheel (Idler Wheel) acts on.
The idler wheel is connected to the track tensioning mechanism (Tensioning roller that serves to keep the track under tension in the less tensioned section).
At the opposite end of the track is a wheel on which no the motor wheel (Idler Wheel) acts on.
The idler wheel is connected to the track tensioning mechanism (Tensioning roller that serves to keep the track under tension in the less tensioned section).
In the central portion is the Rolling train to support the track throughout the area that touches the ground.
Logistics organisation
3D recreation of a farm for Vktor's logistics organisation
Phase 1
The four Vktor modules are stored inside the warehouse where they are recharged
Phase 2
One to four modules leave their warehouse and go to the one containing the agricultural tools
Phase 3
Vktor, hooking up the tool, heads towards the work area
Phase 4
The modules transport the devices in the fields. Whether the Vktor is used as a single module or as two or four coupled modules depends on the size and weight of the tool attached to it, as well as the autonomy required to get the job done
Special Thanks
Thanks to my Family for supporting me over these three years and for always unconditionally endorsing my passions.
Thanks to WA+CH Studio, my supervisors, for giving me the opportunity to meet them, to work with them and to discover how a real professional approaches Design.
Thanks to Tommaso Caldera and all the professors and members of IAAD for being a source of personal and professional growth.
Finally, thanks to all the people I have met along this journey and who, each in their own way, have left me with a memory and a smile.
Alessandro.
