STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE TEST SYSTEM OF AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT IN RUSSIA
The article outlines the stages in the development of a test system for agricultural machines. At the first stage (1873-1917), the initial evaluation of the machines was carried out in the form of competitive tests of agricultural equipment. From 1905 to 1912 the first machine-testing stations were organized (Moscow, Bezenchukskaya, Rostov, Baltic, etc.) and a test concept was developed. In the second period (1917-1948), significant machine-testing stations were reorganized into research institutions, thus Research Institute for Agricultural Engineering appeared. Tests of tracked and wheeled tractors, combine harvesters are tested, on the basis of which a decision is made on their production. In the third period (1948-1991 d) tests and quality control of new and mass-produced machines are carried out at the restored, already constantly operating stations. At that time the testing methodology is standardized, and the regulatory and methodological, technical and legislative base of the state tests is created. The fourth period (from 1991 to the present) is associated with the change of the planned concept to a market one. The significance of machine-testing stations today is due to the need to introduce new test regulations, to control Russian market of foreign equipment, the need to combine research and development work in mechanical engineering. The tasks of machine-testing stations include timely refinement, comprehensive testing and selection for the production of the most promising designs of machines and complexes. In the future, it is necessary to create a state agrarian information and advisory service.