How Belgian manufacturer AVR aims to automate potato cultivation
We’re no longer surprised by telemetry on tractors or combine harvesters, but it’s noteworthy when it becomes possible in potato cultivation. The Belgian manufacturer AVR aims to significantly automate potato growing and is even developing an autonomous potato harvester, no matter how difficult or impossible it may seem.
Belgian potato specialist AVR doesn’t want to lag behind in the automation of precision farming and autonomy, unlike major tractor and machinery manufacturers like Case New Holland and John Deere. With AVR Connect, suitable for every Ceres 440 and 450 planter and every Puma 4.0 and Spirit 7200 harvester, the manufacturer offers potato growers a fully integrated data system from planting to harvesting.
‘Connect’ means that the machine is connected to an online cloud environment where all available data is collected. AVR calls it: ‘an online gathering place for all machine data from both in and out of the field’. To achieve this, the manufacturer equips the machine with an IoT module and a sim card (4G). For rough positioning and more range, a 4G/GPS antenna is standard.
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Data reveals pain points for growers
With the owner’s permission, AVR can view the machine via AVR Connect, which provides remarkable insights. For example, AVR decided to continue focusing on tires under self-propelled potato harvesters. Thanks to AVR Connect, it was revealed that the average self-propelled harvester only spends half its time actually harvesting. “The rest of the time, the driver is waiting for the next trailer or driving on the road,” says Kristof De Ruyck, Benelux Sales Manager at AVR. “This insight was truly remarkable, both for us and for our customers.”
Data automatically linked to fields
Simply put, all settings and parameters on the display in the cabin can also be viewed on the AVR Connect dashboard. For a harvester, think of the inclination and speed of the sieving belts, the cleaning capacity, driving speed, effective harvesting time, waiting times (if registered), harvested area, fuel consumption current and per field, engine and machine parameters, and oil pressure. You can also read fault codes and error messages.
Through weighing cells under the sorting table, the actual and total yield is recorded. For a planter, you can see the capacity of the agitators, the number of misses, the planting distance, the pressure on the hilling cover, the tractor’s fuel consumption (if linked), and the exact number of planted seed potatoes. Once a field is known in AVR Connect, all trip data is automatically linked to this field. It doesn’t matter if you work with one or multiple machines on the same field, as long as they are AVR machines, of course. With geofencing, a digital boundary, you receive a notification as soon as the machine goes beyond it. For data exchange, there are currently links with John Deere Operations Center, Dacom Cloudfarm, and WatchItGrow (in Belgium).
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Dealers can monitor malfunctions remotely
Besides gaining insight into the machine’s real-time performance, remote diagnostics is an advantage for the user. “Our initial goal was to get direct insight into end-user data and share it with them. We face language barriers and numerous time zones, sometimes leading to unintended misunderstandings and delays,” says De Ruyck. “Now the dealer can watch live on request, analyze fault codes, and resolve as much as possible remotely. We can also perform software updates at a convenient time for the customer without anyone having to go there. If necessary, Google Maps guides you right next to the machine.”
AVR Connect data pays off on farms over 300 hectares
AVR introduced its platform five years ago. Today, every Spirit 7200 trailed harvester and every Puma 4.0 self-propelled harvester is equipped with it as standard. It is estimated that 60 to 70% of buyers opt for it, although not everyone uses it actively. “20 to 30% do something with the data and turn it into information,” says De Ruyck. “Some are hesitant to share data about the harvesting process and its effectiveness with potato processors. However, a contractor in the UK who harvests a lot for Lamb Weston allows the processor to watch live during harvesting and adjust the processing capacity in the factory accordingly.”
Another AVR user uses the information to copy best practices from one harvester to another. “In Belgium, effective cost calculation is often the main argument, as many potatoes are processed here. The larger the scale, the more benefit you get from AVR Connect. For more than 200 to 300 hectares (494 to 741 acres) of potatoes, you need it to perform optimally.”
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Real-Time overview of harvest operations
Users especially appreciate the real-time overview of operations – what is happening where? This is valuable for planning, especially if multiple machines are at work. Even after the work is done, the dashboard provides a wealth of information: the efficiency of the planting or harvesting process, the used seed potatoes, the amount of fertilizer, granulate, and fuel, the harvested area, and in combination with yield measurement, the tonnage. If you register waiting times, combined with transport times, the effectiveness of a machine becomes visible. This allows you to calculate the costs per hour and per hectare down to the last detail.
Next Step: hands-free potato harvester
AVR uses all data and insights to develop the potato harvester of the future. One that, like modern combine harvesters, can operate as much as possible on autopilot. A self-propelled machine that supports the driver as much as possible in optimizing the harvesting process.
AVR’s goal is to develop a self-regulating harvesting machine controlled and optimized with (visual) cameras and artificial intelligence. De Ruyck: “This is much more complicated than with a combine harvester because a potato harvester works in the ground. The focus is on utilizing the machine as optimally as possible under varying harvesting, soil, and weather conditions.”
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