GETTING THE most out of high-tech machines these days means electronics are playing an increasing role in achieving optimum work rates.

The recent Precision Farming Event produced a raft of new equipment, with more than a few sporting that industry standard, ISObus technology, which basically means that different machines can be controlled from the tractor using one type of connection.

Kverneland leaps on the ‘BUS

KVERNELAND GROUP rolled out its next generation ISObus terminal, with its dual-screen display, which enables two ISObus compatible implements to be simultaneously monitored and controlled.

The system is called the IsoMatch Tellus terminal and at 32cm (12.1in) it is currently the largest display on the market, giving clear graphics and easy on-screen control of machine tasks through its touch-screen functions.

This new terminal makes it possible to control and view two ISObus-compatible implements without the need to toggle between screens.

“As the number of machines being operated through the ‘plug and play’ ISObus standard increases, there is a greater requirement for a sophisticated dual-screen control system,” says Kverneland Group’s specialist, Graham Owen. “And the permutations for machine monitoring and control are much more advanced with this terminal.”

Kverneland has introduced 29 different ISO-compatible machines throughout its Vicon and Kverneland brands including fertiliser spreaders, sprayers, seed drills, forage wagons, balers and Balepack baler-wrapper combinations. There are now 16,000 Kverneland ISO-compatible machines working worldwide.

The good news is the IsoMatch Tellus is not restricted to controlling simply Kverneland products – it can also be used to control competitors’ ISO compatible machines too.

Claas to establish its own UK RTK network

IN AN effort to cater for customer demand and also to cut down on costs, Claas is forging ahead with a long-term commitment to GPS steering systems, by becoming one of the first manufacturers to set about establishing a network of RTK (real time kinetic) aerials.

Following a successful trial last summer, it has bought four licences that will allow them to potentially install masts anywhere within the UK. Initially, though 11 masts have been installed to provide RTK coverage throughout Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Lincolnshire and part of Leicestershire, covering 2.5m ha.

In the next phase this spring, masts will be installed to cover Kent and the plan is to then move westwards. But, if Scottish customers want it, then they will have to lobby Claas, which says it will look at the feasibility of installing masts elsewhere in the UKas needed. Depending on the topography, each mast provides coverage over a 20 to 30 km radius.

JD’s geeks get to work

JOHN DEERE’S ‘geek’ division was also to the forefront at Precision Farming, with two new ways of supplying farm vehicles with highly accurate GPS correction signals for precision farming applications.

Its mobile RTK system has an industry exclusive ‘fall-back’ feature, and a unique method of extending the signal reliably from an RTK base station.

Using the StarFire RTK (real time kinematic) system, it is possible to achieve a repeatable accuracy to a freaky +/-2cm for customers who require the highest levels of accuracy for crop establishment, treatment and harvesting applications.

As an alternative to an existing base station system, the StarFire Mobile RTK option instead uses a modem connected to the vehicle-mounted StarFire iTC receiver to provide a correction signal via the Vodafone mobile phone network and a central internet-based server.

A unique and automatic ‘fall-back’ to the system, takes in satellite-based SF2 correction (rated at +/-10cm), for those areas where the Vodafone mobile phone coverage is poor.

Initially, the Axio-Net correction signal will be available across most of central and eastern England, but it is recommended that the Vodafone coverage for a particular area is checked before ordering a system.

Keep and ‘i’ out for Hardi

IT’S NOT going to happen for the main spraying season this year, but from August, 2010, one of the best known names in spraying technology, Hardi, will add a full ISObus capability to its Commander i sprayer.

So, keep an ‘i’ out for the newcomers – for that’s the designation now on its top-spec’ sprayers.

Automatic functions includes the AutoWash feature’s three rinsing programs – ‘BoomFlush’, for temporarily stopped spray cycle: ‘Fast-Flush’, a rinse for the empty tank but making it ready for the machine to continue spraying the same chemical the next morning; and ‘MultiRinse’ a full program which starts when the main spray tank is empty and the 500-litre clean water tank is filled to capacity.

Other options for control from the tractor cab include a number of active boom management systems. Full hydraulic adjustment of the boom comes via the AutoHeight System and the operator can choose between ‘soil’ or ‘crop’mode at the flick of a switch.

HeadLandAssist helps the operator at headlands – automatically raising the boom to a predetermined height, turning sections off and lowering back to original spray height – before spraying recommences.

AutoSectionControl controls the operation of the sections – even down to an individual nozzle if desired.

A real plus point for those in hilly areas is the AutoSlant feature, which makes constant boom height and slant adjustments, freeing up the operator from this tricky task in hilly terrain.