Letter from Europe: Electronic automation, new power sources catch the eye at Agritechnica

Sunday, January 10, 2010

The world's largest farm equipment exhibition launches a diesel-electric tractor. Other electrical innovations offer continuous crop-related adjustment of combining and silage harvesting.  And even cow power is lighting up the barns

by NORMAN DUNN

At farm equipment shows, it's the dramatic innovations that grab attention. For instance, the very term "diesel-electric tractor" promised something new and exciting at the Agritechnica exhibition in Germany in November.

Certainly, John Deere had already launched extra on-board, electricity-generating capability with its 2007 E-Premium tractors. But the output is around 20 kW. From a total power of 305 h.p., the new Belarus 3023 tractor from Russia generates up to 230 h.p. or 172 kW electrical power for external applications. The 3020 also comes with stepless electromechanical transmission. Hailed as a great fuel saver with the new tractor is the front power-take-off, which is driven by electricity alone and therefore a much more flexible power source with no demands on the diesel engine.

But many of the less dramatic innovations were also electronically based and will probably bring more than the Belarus in terms of saved labour, more efficiency and increased safety for everyday farm work.

For instance, Claas introduced an electronic machinery optimization service (CEMOS) for its combines.

The family firm notes that there's often a lack of optimum efficiency during threshing because the average operator sets up the machine for the day – or at any rate for the field – and then just keeps on combining. CEMOS is the computer-controlled electrohydraulic equivalent of those operators that stop and start across the field, making tiny adjustments and taking hours to get 10 acres done.

The big difference with interactive CEMOS is that alterations are continuous and the machine never has to stop. It analyzes all parameters, from moisture content to amount of straw, and then suggests to the operator the adjustments that should be made.

The driver still has the say, but that just means pressing a button. Even better, any target conflicts are identified and the solutions are presented – for example, more broken grain or slower threshing speed. CEMOS identifies the problem early on and lets the operator decide.

Another new application for electronic automation is for forage harvesting.

Austrian-based manufacturer Pöttinger has teamed-up with John Deere to develop a sensor-controlled operating system. Sensors check the crop in the swath of hay or silage. With Pöttinger self-loading silage trailers, for instance, the amount of forage in the swath, torque demands at the pick-up rotor and the load being shifted backwards in the trailer are all noted. This information is fed through computer control to automatically regulate tractor speed.

Pöttinger calculates that there is a 10 per cent productivity gain through  continual automatic alteration of speed to match conditions and associated avoidance of blockages and subsequent damage to machinery, not to mention driver stress. More is to come in this direction, assures the Austrian manufacturer.

Other manufacturers are using the same approach with various field operations. "For instance, the entire round baling sequence can be automated. Speed, direction, stop and start for wrapping can be taken out of the driver's hands," explains one excited development engineer.

Out on the road, the new electronics are also helping make tractor and trailer transport jobs a lot safer – for instance, air-powered brakes with anti-blocking system (ABS) in the Case IH Puma CVX, which was launched in Europe this winter with power up to 193 h.p., and semi-powershift 18x6 transmission for up to 40 km/h or 19x6 ECO for up to the 50 km/h version. The ABS has been developed by Case-IH to use the hydraulic braking systems already fitted in the Puma series. A transformer changes the hydraulic action into compressed air pressure.

Just for a change this winter, Europe agriculture experienced the introduction of a new power source that is completely natural. This features the unlikely combination of dairy cows and a treadmill or running belt. The moving belt makes up the floor of a feeding crate set to an angle so that the feeding cow automatically keeps walking and in this way drives a generator for electricity production.

Northern Ireland engineer Willie Taylor launched his Livestock Power Mill this fall more as an idea for giving housed cattle some exercise. Now his cow power idea is patented and powering lights in the barn. BF

Norman Dunn writes about European agriculture from Germany.