Automatic tarpaulin over straw transport

The purpose of the project is to reduce fuel consumption and thereby Co2 emissions in agriculture for straw transport. The goal is achieved by developing a system for automatic loading of tarpaulin over a load of straw, which is to be transported from farm to Power plants on road by lorry.

Addition of tarpaulin also has the great advantage that dust and straw pieces do not bother the other road users, and the tarpaulin prevents the straw from getting wet during longer transport during rain.

The activities of the project
Construction and testing of a prototype consisting of 2 loading platform / containers fitted with the new device. The two loading platforms are tested as for using both trailers so that the fuel consumption can be measured on a combined truck. Subsequently, the two Loading platforms can be used for demonstration and testing together or separately.

Development of the trailer / trailer device could be directly transferred to use also on tractor-driven vehicles in order to expand the market.

The project has two challenges: 1) Development of an automatic mechanism to fix the tarpaulin so that it can hold the load on the trolley. 2) Placement of pipes for tarpaulin during transport so that the permissible width is not exceeded.

The marketing will be targeted to straw carriers with lorries and tractors. The machine plant POMI already has contact and trade with relevant straw companies.