DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS OF AN AUTONOMOUS ELECTRIC VEHICLE FOR USE IN FAMILY FARM UNITS

ABSTRACT Family farming in Brazil is responsible for the country’s food security, ensuring most of the food consumed by Brazilians. However, the agricultural machinery and equipment industry has not been dedicated to providing innovations to this sector, focusing mainly on supplying large agribusiness properties with the most advanced technology equipment. Thus, the introduction of new technological solutions regarding agricultural machines for family farming is necessary. Considering the need to supply this branch of the Brazilian agricultural sector with new technologies, this study aimed to establish the design specifications of an autonomous electric vehicle that serves as a multifunction platform, which was primarily designed to remove weeds, mainly meeting the needs of family farmers. The product development methodology in its informational phase was applied to obtain and study these needs. As a result, 19 design specifications were established with their associated target values, allowing defining the physical and economic parameters that will be the basis for the development of the autonomous electric vehicle in its conceptual phase.