BANDUNG, unpas.ac.id – A multifunctional portable tractor created by UNPAS Mechanical Engineering is now being improved to operate in electric mode. Currently, this backpack-tractor named as TractorPack is still in prototype phase and battery assembling trial.
Later on, the form of this electric tractor will still be the same as the one that uses fuel. The difference lays in the electric motor which functions as a driver.
The technician and developer of TractorPack, Iwan Nugraha said that the tractor has not been already tested in the field. It has only just been connected with the electric motor.
“It has been once connected with the motor, but we have not found the right one. So, we still try and more focus on the other electrical equipment,” explained Iwan in the TractorPack Workshop, Jalan Kiputih I, Ciumbuleuit, Bandung, on Thursday (March 4th, 2021).
If the making of the electric tractor could be implemented, the fuel would be replaced with the electric motor with the rechargeable battery.
“The plan is now on process. As immediate as possible. Now we are making the prototype but we still use the imported battery. So, we also try to assembly the battery with the great less-expensive power,” he said.
Up until now, TractorPack using the fuel is still now being improved, especially at the gearbox part or manual transmission to regulate motion and torque.
Iwan also stated that the tractor has not been as perfect as expected, therefore there need few repairs. One of which is to reduce the gearbox by selecting less-big machine and enough energy.
So far, the TractorPack can be used for the post-harvested land only, while for starting the new land, the it still needs to be helped with a lawn tripper and an operator for collecting the grass or branches.
“It is used for the post-harvested land, such as fields or gardens whose terrain is hard to pass by the large tractor. We also find it hard to operate it in the new land. It becomes inefficient and it takes long to fix the blade,” he added.
However, according to the Staff of Marketing and Workshop, Ari Wahyu Perdana, the TractorPack is already in great demand by the public. By the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Research and Technology, the TractorPack(s) are distributed to the farmers in several regions in Indonesia.
“We focus more on the agency as target, then it will be distributed to the operator or farmers. Not by the farmers directly,” he said.
Ari also hoped that this year, the number of order would not decrease (although it is still pandemic). He also added that currently the tractor is now improving for pest sprayer to be a portable fire pump.
“There are (few) orders this year. We plan to improve the sprayer. But due to the pandemic, we find it hard to do it, because we need to do the equipment demo presentation,” he ended. (Reta Amaliyah S)