Agritechnica 2023: more convenience and insight through precision

Doing more with less fertilizer, crop protection agents, soil pressure, and labor, while simultaneously gaining more insight. That seems to be the common theme among the innovations in precision agriculture that have been announced prior to Agritechnica. For example, Amazone offers insight into the condition of a cultivator behind an unmanned tractor or field robot with reduced soil pressure, thanks to sensors. The AEF (Agricultural Electronics Foundation) is launching AgIN, a cloud solution aimed at bridging the gap between manufacturer-specific management systems. Specialist in hoeing equipment, K.U.L.T. Kress, will utilize camera technology from Ullmanna and laser technology from WeedBot to more precisely combat weeds. Grimme, on the other hand, uses laser technology to provide insight into potato yield, tuber size distribution, and percentage of waste.

Advanced Automation and Autonomy

Advanced Automation and Autonomy (38) AgXeed Makes Tractors and Implements Autonomous (440) AgXeed, Amazone, and Claas are collaborating to create smart autonomous tractors and implements through the new 3A autonomy group. One of the first results of this partnership is Amazone AutoTill. It uses inductive sensors to check if a cultivator is full or if a tine is broken or missing. The first pilot series will be available in 2024. 3A stands for Advanced Automation and Autonomy and has received a silver medal.

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AgIN ends isolation

The Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation (AEF), the organization behind the Isobus standard, is launching the AgIN initiative. This initiative aims to eliminate manufacturer-specific data communication, management systems, and cloud solutions. AgIN acts as a bridge between these isolated systems, preventing users from encountering communication problems. The initiative was nominated for the ‘DLG-Agrifuture Concept Winners’ award but did not make it into the top five winners.

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Kuhn unveils field robot Karl

So far, we have only had a photo and some technical details, but in Hannover, Kuhn will unveil its first field robot, Karl. Until then, the specifications remain a mystery. However, it’s certain that the tracked vehicle bears similarities to AgXeed AgBot, featuring a hybrid drivetrain and front and rear lift.

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Curve compensation on fertilizer spreaders

Amazone CurveControl adjusts the lateral distribution on fertilizer spreaders when turning to different speeds, correcting the spread pattern. This prevents unwanted over-fertilization on the inside of the turn and grains spilling beyond the field boundary. CurveControl is available as an option on the mounted ZA-TS and the trailed ZG-TS spreaders.

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Robot becomes a trailer on the road

Machine manufacturers Krone and Lemken have been working for several years under the name ‘Combined Powers’ on an autonomous vehicle called VTE. They approach this development from their perspective as machine manufacturers, resulting in various interesting solutions, such as sensors and cameras to monitor the machine’s condition and work. They have now introduced a transport solution called Vehicle Transport System (VTS), allowing the VTE to be towed behind a manned tractor, similar to how a camper is towed by a car.

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Laser camera specifies product

Grimme’s CropAnalyser displays potato yield, tuber size distribution, and waste percentage. A laser camera above the bunker fill belt scans the product flow. The data is sent wirelessly to almost any management system via Agrirouter, making important information for planning, storage, and potato marketing readily available.

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Laser on hoe

The German company K.U.L.T. Kress is teaming up with the Lithuanian specialist WeedBot to bring the K.U.L.T. iLaser to the market. WeedBot is developing a machine to combat weeds in carrots with blue laser beams, allowing for precise work near the crops while leaving the soil undisturbed. Laser technology is clearly on the rise.

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Hoeing machine with AI

Another collaboration and innovation in sustainable weed control comes from K.U.L.T. Kress. The K.U.L.T. iScan offers the ability to hoe more precisely with artificial intelligence (AI). They are not the first hoeing machine manufacturer to incorporate the so-called Arow Box from the Czech company Ullmanna.

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