A Tractor For The Apocalypse

[clarencebunsen]

You Built What?!: A Tractor For The Apocalypse

Marcin Jakubowski didn’t study fusion physics to become a farmer. But the Polish-American scientist grew more disillusioned with academia the longer he worked toward his doctorate. Researchers withheld data to compete for grants, he says, instead of collaborating to solve big problems. “The further I went in my Ph.D. program, the less value I felt I was contributing to society,” he says. Seeking a fresh start, Jakubowski bought 30 acres of Missouri farmland and a tractor. Life in relative seclusion proved uneventful until, one day in 2008, his tractor broke down for the second and last time, spurring him to start an open-source industrial revolution.

To Jakubowski, the tractor seemed designed to fail. Why should he sink more money into fixing it or buy a replacement? He wanted a simple and useful machine, and one he could repair and upgrade on the fly. “It boiled down to lower cost in the long run,” he says.

www.popsci.com/diy/article/2013-03/tractor-apocalypse?single-page-view=true

[dave]

Refreshing idea! Regarding his designs, they seem generalized, which would be useful for a good deal of farm and earth moving chores. However, I've watching across the pond as the construction company clears land in preparation for building new homes and some of the specialized equipment ... like the tree feller and the earth diggers ... must be worth the extra money for their specialized abilities when scaled up to full time use.

[clarencebunsen]

Yes, doing a large number of repetitive tasks is going to be more efficient with a purpose designed tool. If I'm going to drive 10,000 screws into hardwood, I'm much better off with a power driver than a hand multi-tool. If I'm going to drive 10,000 per day, an automated tool would be better. However if I'm going to drive one screw, shave a branch for kindling and open a wine bottle, the multi-tool would be the choice.

Tractors are the multi-tool of farming.