Tractor rollovers are the leading cause of death among farmers, claiming about 250 lives each year according to NIOSH. These incidents often occur far away from farmers’ homes or roads, and they may be unable to reach a phone to call for help. University of Missouri researchers have developed an application for smartphones that uses GPS systems to locate farmers who have rolled their tractors.
The app, called VRPETERS (Vehicle Rollover Prevention Education Training Emergency Reporting System), uses sensors and GPS capability built into smartphones to detect rollovers. Once the app detects a rollover, it sends an automatic emergency e-mail and phone message with the coordinates of the rollover location to family or emergency responders.
“The tractor is the main power source for field operations, and tractor rollover accidents have been killing people since the beginning of their use in agricultural production,” says app developr Bulent Koc. “More and more farmers are using their smartphones to monitor weather or calculate production inputs while operating machinery. Since they already have their phones with them, installing VRPETERS could help save lives.” Data from the NIOSH show that 1 in 10 tractor operators will roll a tractor at least once. NIOSH also notes that only half of the 4.7 million tractors on U.S. farms have rollover protection.
To minimize false alarm rollovers on the app, Koc and his research assistant Bo Liu designed a device that must be attached to the tractor. This device helps calculate the tractor's stability characteristics and will warn the driver when the tractor approaches its rollover point.
“Many farmers think they can jump out of their tractors in the event of a rollover, but this isn’t the case usually,” Koc said. “Side rollovers can occur in just three-quarters of a second and most people need a second or more to react to an event. So, VRPETERS can benefit farmers when a rollover occurs because they often can’t reach their phones to make an emergency call.”
Initial testing of VRPETERS was performed using a remote-controlled model tractor. Once fully tested on a standard tractor, Koc and Liu will seek an industry partner to market the app.
“Many farmers think they can jump out of their tractors in the event of a rollover, but this isn’t the case usually,” Koc said. “Side rollovers can occur in just three-quarters of a second and most people need a second or more to react to an event. So, VRPETERS can benefit farmers when a rollover occurs because they often can’t reach their phones to make an emergency call.”
Initial testing of VRPETERS was performed using a remote-controlled model tractor. Once fully tested on a standard tractor, Koc and Liu will seek an industry partner to market the app.