Launch autonomous project
Robot tractor Case in the field this year
Case IH announces an autonomous vehicle program at the National Farm Machinery Show in the United States (US). In 2016, the manufacturer already showed a robot tractor. You will not see them driving in the field in the short term, but a first step is being taken.
At the Farm Progress Show in 2016 Case IH stole the Show with their concept vehicle without a cab. At the same time, competitor New Holland showed a similar robot tractor, but with a cabin. Case IH is now also going down this path. The company will present its strategy at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky.
The manufacturer says it has spoken with users worldwide to draw up their autonomy and automation program for agriculture. It is divided into 5 steps for the future.
5 steps of autonomy according to Case IH:
- RTK GPS Control
- Coordination and optimization
- Driver supporting autonomy
- Autonomy under supervision
- Full autonomy
"It's not saying that the company goes through these 5 steps in that order," says precision farming product manager Robert Zemenchik. "The categories only show what is possible. The fleet can cover different categories at the same time. For example, many of our customers already use GPS control and driver-assisted autonomy."
Pilot Autonomous Tractor Program
This year, Case IH is starting a pilot autonomous tractor program in partnership with California company Bolthouse Farms. The aim is to find out how autonomous vehicle technology can best be applied in farming practice. Zemenchik believes that only the company itself can find out how autonomy fits best.
Bolthouse Farms is the largest carrot grower in the US with operations in 4 states and Canada. They see robot tractors as the next step in the company. The pilot will start with automating the main tillage and deep tillage. Repetitive work that robots can easily perform themselves. Case IH will deploy a small fleet of autonomous Case IH Quadtrac articulated crawler tractors for this (with their own disc harrows and subsoilers). Practical information should, among other things, provide data on the influences of various operations, soil types, weather conditions and sensing.
Feedback
"The main goal is to receive agronomic advice from the drivers," said Zemenchik. We can then refine and optimize the technique for practical use. In addition, we learn what an agricultural company needs when it comes to autonomy. For Brian Grant, president of Bolthouse Farms, the big win for their business is being able to operate more efficiently with less cost.
Case IH is not yet giving details on the technical side of the story. It remains with 1 sparse photo of 2 articulated tractors, for which 1 driver is needed. The second trigger (slave) rehearses the work of the first (master). A trick that Fendt already experimented with in 2015 under the name GuideConnect.
Collaboration
CNH is working with the American company Autonomous Solutions Incorporated (ASI) for the sensors. Radar, Lidar, GPS and video images must provide the necessary safety. ASI offers this technology brand-independently. NH showed a T8 built with this technique in the US.
At the Sima and Agritechnica in 2017, a T7 equipped with this could be seen. A big advantage, compared to the robot tractor that Case IH built earlier, is that as a driver you can jump into the cabin and transport the tractor over the road or use it for all kinds of work.
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CNH works together with company ASI for the sensors needed for a robot tractor.Talking seedbed preparer
Separate from the autonomous program, but certainly inextricably linked, is another novelty that Case IH is launching at the American machine show. AFS Soil Command makes the seedbed preparer 'talk' to the tractor. This should result in a more even and flat seedbed. If a robot tractor wants to deliver the same quality of work as a manned one, the tractor and implement must be able to operate in tandem.
Ideal seedbed
According to the manufacturer, the emergence of the seed is sometimes far from ideal, because the seed bed has not been prepared accurately enough. This is due to improper use of the machines. Once the machine has been adjusted, it is not looked after enough, says Case IH. By continuously sending information to the terminal in the tractor, you as a driver know what is happening outside.
For this, each vibrating tooth is equipped with a sensor, which is connected to a potentiometer. If the tine vibrates too much, you are driving too fast and the seed bed is uneven. If the seed bed is flat, the seeder can drive faster, the seed is better at depth and the emergence is more even. That's the theory behind it.
111 sensors
Case IH will supply Soil Command ex works on the American Tiger-Mate cultivator from 2019 onwards. Information about the machine is displayed on your tractor terminal via ISObus. With working widths of up to 18,4 metres, the machine has a maximum of 111 vibrating tines. That's a lot of sensors that can all break. Yet it is insurmountable. Agrifac recently showed that their new field sprayer has 600 sensors.
The manufacturer claims that they use robust technology, but the question remains whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. However, if there is no longer a driver in the seat, there is more to be said for the solution. If there is a blockage or if the machine hits a stone, the tractor can intervene itself.
Soil Command lets your seedbed preparer talk to the tractor for a more even seedbed.
Niels van der Boom
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