SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/693015
32 SportsTurf | July 2016 www.sportsturfonline.com FACILITY & OPERATIONS decreasing battery weight have been a continuous effort for decades. Research teams around the world, from a variety of different sectors, have been trying to develop the next groundbreaking battery solution, and the research is promising. Lithium-ion batteries have made significant progress in the past few years and continue to improve. Lithium batteries have made electric vehicles possible for city vehicles, such as the Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Volt and the Tesla. Experimenting with new metals and chemistries has helped develop a long list of emerging technologies that may surpass the lithium-ion battery. Materials like aluminum and zinc have entered the realm as potential solutions. As alternative fuel sources continue to be a driver for manufacturers, distributors and end users alike, we can expect battery research to be an area of focus for research and development teams for years to come ASSISTED AND AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES With significant investments from organizations like Google, Uber and most of the major automobile manufacturers, autonomous vehicles are making a name in mainstream media as the "next big thing." Although there are hurdles to be crossed, the day when driverless vehicles take to the road is within sight. Adaptive cruise control, collision sensors, and lane departure warnings are all appropriate steps to autonomous vehicles. Turf care is a potential early adopter of autonomous technology. Turf care is very routine and we do not have to interact with other non-automated vehicles. The main challenge for manufacturers is centered on making existing technology both productive, affordable and safe. Autonomous vehicles may be able to fill employment gaps as sports field managers often have an increasingly difficult time finding skilled turf care professionals. At sports complexes where there can be a shortage of labor, an autonomous mowing unit would free up the available workforce to take on additional tasks. Another area where autonomous vehicles can prove value is in their ability to deliver better overall consistency. Automation takes human error out of the equation and can help keep operators off of steep slopes or from other potentially hazardous terrain. ART VS. SCIENCE Professional turf care is considered an art by many in the industry, and we're encouraging turf managers to move more towards science and rely on measurements and data to provide the best solutions. The future of successful turf care is firmly rooted in precision turf management. Given the growing importance of taking care of our environment, sports field managers and superintendents, along with manufacturers and other professionals, must continue the adoption of technology to make more informed, efficient and productive decisions when it comes to managing turf. The transition from art to science in the sports turf industry won't be an easy one, but turf care professionals who can successfully accomplish this and thrive in a wireless, interconnected world will be better equipped and informed to take action with their turf where and when it is needed. The industry has made great progress, but the future is even more exciting in terms of what we can do, together, to care for the turf and our outdoors! ABOUT TORO'S CENTER FOR ADVANCED TURF TECHNOLOGY (CATT) Focused on advancing the company's innovative leadership, Toro's Center for Advanced Turf Technology (CATT) has responsibility for developing technologies that benefit both customers and the environment. Comprised of a team of leading agronomists and product development professionals, CATT identifies emerging trends in turf care markets and, through the application of appropriate technologies, helps discover new solutions to increase productivity, conserve water, reduce fuel consumption, and improve growing conditions. In working with customers, academic institutions and leading researchers, the group has been influential in the area of robotics, hydrogen fuel cells, advanced battery technologies, precision irrigation and soil moisture sensing.