Evaluation of trafficked error paths of trailers in sugarcane fields

Harvest mechanization in sugarcane results in an intense vehicle traffic inside the crop areas. When using transshipment trailers, keeping them in the correct path is not simple. The aim of this study was to evaluate the error path of a set trailered with and without the use of an automatic steering system during sugarcane harvesting. We used a combination of a tractor and two transshipment trailers with three axles each. The results show that the errors of the transshipments are above the acceptable and the use of automatic steering on the tractor minimizes offset errors in the transshipments trajectory and the slope of the terrain is a factor that interferes with the displacement as a whole. Despite the use of automatic steering systems in the auxiliary tractor to minimize the errors suffered by transshipments, there is a need for active systems linked to these to be maintained in the correct route.