1/4 Scale Tractor Student Design Competition
2009 Competition
Date and Location
A-Team Rules - PDF
X-Team Rules - PDF
1/4 Scale Team Resource List
Competition Handbook (First Release) - PDF
2008 Competition
Competition Results
Competition Schedule of Events - PDF
Web Site Design Competition Rules
A-Team Rules - PDF
X-Team Rules - PDF
Results Press Release - Word
Team Photos
General Information
1/4 Scale Informational Brochure - PDF
How to Register (HTML)
Individual Sponsorship
Education and Development
Sponsorship Benefits
Contacts
Past Results
Sponsors
Important Information
Sponsor Tours
Sled Configuration
Consider Giving to the 1/4 Scale Tractor
Student Design Competition
2008 saw the 11th Annual International 1/4 Scale Tractor Student
Design Competition. As the competition has grown through
the years, it has become more and more challenging. It has given
thousands of students hands-on, real-world engineering experience,
something that is often not available in the classroom. Perhaps
you have benefited firsthand from involvement in this event or know someone who has. While we rely heavily on our corporate sponsors
-- AGCO Corp., Bridgestone/Firestone, Briggs & Stratton
Corp., CLAAS, CNH, Caterpillar, Deere & Company, eServ, igus Inc, Kubota, MacDon Industries, New
Holland North America, SolidWorks and Sukup Manufacturing -- for support, we need your
help, too. Won't you please consider becoming an individual sponsor
for 2009? Any amount is greatly appreciated! Checks may be written
to ASABE and mailed to:
ASABE
2950 Niles Rd.,
St. Joseph, MI 49085
Attn: Mark Crossley
Thank you in advance for your generosity.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE and FUN
Providing students professional experience, education and fun -
ASABE, the Society for Engineering in Agriculture, Food and Biological
Systems, is interested in doing just that. ASABE organized an International
Student Design Competition based upon the concept of designing a
1/4 Scale Tractor.
The design competition is arranged to be both educational and fun
for the students. There will be five main judging categories: a
Written Design Report, a Team Presentation, Individual Design Judging,
Maneurvability and a Performance Competition. The performance competition,
the highlight of the event, is comprised of a multi-stage tractor
pull using a progressive sled.
Through involvement in the competition, students will gain practical
experience in the design of drivetrain systems, tractor performance,
manufacturing processes, analysis of tractive forces, weight transfer
and strength of materials. In addition, they will also develop skills
in communication, leadership, teamwork, fundraising and test &
development.
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EDUCATION &
DEVELOPMENT
Design Experience and More
One of the primary concerns of industry today is that many engineering
students (of all majors) are entering the workforce with little
or no practical knowledge or design experience.
Student design competitions and projects are an important key to
help prepare students to be effective professional engineers.
In the 1/4 Scale Tractor Student Design Competition, students will
be challenged to harness the power and torque of a specified stock
engine in order to maximize performance in the tractor pull.
Design Fundamentals
Design fundamentals such as strength of materials, statics and power
transfer will be major factors as the students design their frame,
drivetrain, hitch, clutch, weight brackets and other parts. Although
the size and shape of the 1/4 scale tractor is similar to that of
a typical lawn and garden tractor, very few parts will be used directly
from a commercial machine.
Manufacturing Processes
Not only will students gain practical design experience by participating
in this project, they will also obtain valuable experience as they
manufacture, build and assemble their own designs.
Many a manufacturing department cringes when design engineers simply
throw their designs "over the wall" and assume they can be easily
manufactured. Through hands-on experience with numerous manufacturing
processes, students will gain an awareness of the capabilities and
potential pitfalls in the design for manufacturability and design
for assembly.
Professional Skill
With a project of this size and magnitude, the students' skills
in communication, teamwork and time management will be greatly challenged,
and developed through necessity. This project will graduate students
who can excel and perform under adverse conditions and pressures,
with professional skills valuable to any employer.
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Sponsorship Benefits
Sponsorship is more than just a demonstration of a company's
investment in the community or a show of their commitment to educational
development. Corporate sponsorship is an investment in a company's
future.
Students who participate in this design competition and others like
it, are highly sought by major corporations because they will accomplish
the following:
- Receive hands-on experience in both design and manufacturing
processes.
- Learn how to manage, finance and document a design program from
start to finish.
- Learn how to communicate professionally with peers, industry
and professional engineers through fundraising and competition
events.
- Enhance team building skills as they design, build, and test
their tractors.
- Develop time management and multi-tasking skills as they balance
their rigorous school load with the demands of an in-depth design
project.
Sponsorship is an excellent way to identify and establish contacts
with some of the most highly skilled engineering students in the
country, students who are already interested in the Power &
Machinery division of Agricultural Engineering. As you may know,
Power & Machinery students take most of the standard Mechanical
Engineering coursework but specialize in Agricultural applications
such as Off Road Machinery and Lawn & Turf equipment.
Also, as a Sponsor, you will receive immediate promotional benefits
as listed in the accompanying sponsorship chart.
Interested in a becoming a sponsor? Please contact Mark Crossley
at crossley@asabe.org
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Sponsor logo will be displayed on three sides of each
team's tractor to maximize visibility when pictures of the
tractors are used in publications. Approximately 5" x
5" in size. |
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Sponsor's name and/or logo will be present in promotions,
advertisements, TV, radio, news media publications and announcements
for the event. |
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Sponsor will receive a resume book of student participants
prior to the event. |
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Sponsors logo will be displayed on two sides of each team's
tractor. |
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Sponsor will be provided space for a display at the competition. |
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Sponsor will receive the Winning Written Design Report
and a DVD with competition highlights. |
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Sponsor will be provided the opportunity to display banners
at the event. Platinum = 4; Gold = 2; Silver & Bronze
= 1 |
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Sponsor name and/or logo will appear in all ASABE publications
pertaining to the competition. |
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Sponsor will receive and appreciation plaque (Platinum,
Gold, Silver, Bronze) or certificate (Site). |
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Sponsor logo (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) or name (Site)
will appear on annual competition T-shirt and in competition
DVD. |
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Contacts
Past Results
2007 Results
2006 Results
2005 Results
2004 Results
2003 Results
2002 Results
2001 Results
2000 Results
1999 Results
1998 Results
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Sponsors
(Each logo links to a sponsor's Web site.)
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