To mark the company’s 60th anniversary, Agco-owned Valtra has unveiled its ANTS concept tractor, which will be seen for the first time at Sima 2011.
The ANTS tractor has two different basic size units, both of the which share a similar basic powertrain principle. Each intelligent wheel has individual electric drive motors. This kind of arrangement and the lack of a traditional transmission allow alternative power sources to be employed more flexibly.
The smaller Valtra ANTS 100 unit offers 100kW from a battery-based power source with gas turbine generator backup. The bigger Valtra ANTS 200, on the other hand, utilises a biogas/electric hybrid power source to supply 200kW.
The highly modular construction of both base units allows the power source to be changed according to customer needs. Both of the Valtra ANTS units share a similar basic layout. The power source is located inside the central body – battery bags with a turbine generator backup in the ANTS 100 and a biogas/electric hybrid power source in the ANTS 200. It is also possible to add extra battery bags and biogas cells on both sides of the body to allow longer running times. All of the wheels are connected to the central body via suspension arms.
Each intelligent wheel unit has its own active suspension, which allows the entire ANTS unit to self level in various terrain conditions. The active suspension maximises traction, efficiency and driver comfort at all times. This unique suspension also allows the machine to control the body height and ride height. When driving at high speeds on roads (up to 80 km/hr) the whole body of the machine lowers itself for greater stability and better aerodynamics, resulting in better driving characteristics, improved fuel economy and greater comfort.
When driving off road and moving over big obstacles, such as rocks and logs, the machine raises itself to provide extra ground clearance. Whereas traditional tractors with fixed nonsuspended rear axles sometimes have a rough ride, Valtra ANTS offers an exceptionally smooth ride. This is not only comfortable for the driver, it also provides a better working environment and platform for various implements.
In addition to an intelligent active suspension, Valtra ANTS also has intelligent wheels. They have electric drive motors, and also feature an extremely ingenious mechanism that allows them to expand when needed. The Valtra ANTS unit constantly monitors various parameters related to its surroundings. For example, it recognises if the machine starts to dig into the soil or if the soil itself is soft, and it can automatically expand the wheels to almost twice the normal width to prevent getting stuck.
Expanding the wheels also changes the tyre pattern. When the wheels are in narrow mode they have a shallow tire pattern that is good for driving on roads and other smoother surfaces, and also provides low rolling resistance and greater fuel economy. When the wheels are expanded to the wider mode, the tyre pattern changes to provide a much deeper and rougher pattern. Combined with the unique active suspension, this gives Valtra ANTS superb grip in various working conditions.
Valtra ANTS does away with traditional oil-based hydraulics. Most functions have been replaced with electric motors and actuators. If traditional hydraulics are required for some older implements, the pressure can be generated using water-based hydraulics.
The modular structure of Valtra ANTS is enabled by the spinal core of the central body. It starts from one end of the central body and goes through the whole machine to the other end of the central body. All the implements, including the cab, are attached to this rail-like spinal core. This means that the implement can be moved back and forth along the spinal core. In addition, the cab itself can be lowered to the ground or raised to the top of the central body or even turned 180 degrees towards the rear of the machine.
There is no more need for a traditional three-point linkage, but if it is needed for older implements it can be also connected to the Valtra ANTS spinal core. Thanks to the highly flexible implement attachment system, the rotating cab and four-wheel steering, Valtra ANTS is a true bidirectional machine without any particular front or back, making it the ultimate evolution of Valtra’s TwinTrac philosophy.
For more information visit: www.valtra60.com.
