GrainsWest Tech 2020

Tech 2020 Grains West 30 “Customers that run the prototypes really enjoy it,” said Kohnen. “That steering column always felt like a seatbelt, something between me and the window. Now it’s gone. You feel like you’re about to fall out sometimes. The view is amazing. I have full control with the joystick steering whether I’m going 5 km/h or 30 km/h.” The new Fendt tractor’s three-year or 3,000-hour warranty, maintenance and telemetry subscription package allows remote diagnostics. Operators can better calculate just how the machine will pencil out for them. MAY THE FOTA BEWITH YOU Tractor cab innovation at Case IH focuses on keeping farmers in the know. Its AFS Connect Steiger and AFS Connect Magnum series cabs connect through the company’s app. “I can see that vehicle on my phone: location, fuel level, diesel exhaust fuel level,” said Leo Bose, Case marketing manager for harvesting and precision farming products. “Now, with remote display access, I can remote in, see what that operator is seeing and coach them through what’s happening.” In the cab, its AFS Pro 1200 30-centimetre (12-inch) LCD display is clearly visible on the sunniest of days. These tractors also have FOTA—firmware over the air updates—available from dealers on new Case models. This gives farmers more operating time with less waiting around for updates to finish before returning to work. And through the AFS Connect portal, precision agronomic data can easily be downloaded and shared with a farmer’s preferred third-party for analysis and interpretation. “We’re always trying to create greater efficiencies and increase productivity, but we need to make that easy for the operator to consume in the cab,” said Bose. The company utilized customer focus groups to direct these innovations. “What you see today is the fruit of listening to the customers,” he said. The streamlined right armrest features integrated three-point hitch control and electro-hydraulic remote levers. A technological leap for New Holland, its ISOBUS Class 3 compatibile control system allows implements to communicate with the tractor. Photo:CourtesyofNewHolland New Holland’s Ken Paul predicts the coming decade will see cab tech functions such as precision farming become more intuitive to operate. Photo:CourtesyofNewHolland FEATURE