AT traction engine IC 3D model

The AT traction engine is a traction engine (wikipedia on 'Traction_engine' ), inspired by the '1902 Ivel Agricultural Motors Ltd traction engine' and runs on 2 AC-electric engines. 2 motors are used (one for each track) to allow the vehicle to make turns (vehicle control). The vehicle is controlled with 2 levers. The AC-electric engines themselves are powered directly (on-demand) using several alternators connected to a internal combustion engine with Stirling engine. The internal combustion engine runs on wood chips (this is accomplished by using a wood gasifier connected to the motor).

Note that, once the vehicle has finished the trip to the agricultural field, the motor is placed on the ground (using the rail system and detachable floor plate). The controls are also detached from the vehicle and the vehicle is controlled remotely. The electric cables are still connected to the vehicle though, to allow vehicle control and to keep powering the AC electric engines.

The camera (the green box at the front) is used by the driver (manual control); it is pointed towards the ground and serves to view whether the vehicle drives correctly in its track. The screen is placed relatively low, and the driver can also look over it (so on-sight, without using a camera), to see the vehicle's relative position in the field.

The camera not used by the autopilot, the autopilot only has 1 measurement tool, namely a tool to count the revolutions of one of the wheels (and hence the distance travelled). The autopilot is only an additional feature, and the vehicle first needs to be set in it's starting position manually.

Note that at present, the motor may be too small, to fix this in practice, a cart can be pulled behind the vehicle. This cart can then be disconnected at the agricultural field. See the 'Purchasing_the_models' link at appropedia's AT_CAD_Team for additional information on the model