Milestone 1: Competitive Analysis

Overview

The report below presents a competitive analysis of drivetrains used at the 2025 ASABE International Quarter-Scale Student Design Competition to guide the design of the Wildcat Pulling Team’s 2026 drivetrain. Our team reviewed recorded livestreams of the competition and analyzed official ASABE scorecards to evaluate drivetrain performance across three key events: tractor pulls, durability, and maneuverability. By comparing results from mechanical, hydrostatic, and electric drivetrains, we identified trends in consistency, strengths, and weaknesses for each design. While all drivetrains demonstrated competitiveness in certain areas, mechanical drivetrains consistently placed higher overall, particularly in pulling and durability events. Based on this analysis, the team concluded that a mechanical drivetrain will provide the most reliable foundation for the Wildcat 3526 tractor, ensuring continued high-level performance at competition.