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The differences between courses offered agricultural and mechanical engineers are examined. The topics in the courses are reviewed in some detail. The students start with a review of basic fluid mechanics followed by an introduction to bulk modulus. Governing equations for pumps motors and valves are introduced next. Course emphasis then diverges. The agricultural engineers cover the basics of control theory to cover a deficiency in their undergraduate curriculum. The mechanical engineers embark on more rigorous examination of the simulation of fluid power components. Students in both departments may elect to take a 1 cr. laboratory course. The laboratory exercises are discussed.

European and American suspension systems are described for improving the operator ride comfort on off-road vehicles. Analytical methods are then described to predict the dynamic behavior of a vehicle and human ride response criteria. The approach includes the selection of a terrain input to excite the vehicle model formulated by the generalized mechanical system simulation programs. An example involving an agricultural tractor-plow system is presented to illustrate the techniques.