CASE IH is to give a world premiere to its SIMA Innovation Gold Medal-winning V2V wireless technology at SIMA 2011.
The V2V system allows agricultural machines, such as combines and the tractor/trailer combinations into which they are unloading, to be synchronised in the field using the ’master and slave’ principle, matching their position, working speed and functions for improved simplicity, safety and speed.
Safe teamwork
Modern combines work with wider cutterbars and at significantly higher forward speeds than those of just a few years ago, while unloading outputs can be well over 100 litres per second on the latest Case IH Axial Flow machines, making manual co-ordination of the tractor/trailer and the combine a task requiring the full concentration of both operators.
This makes the unloading process a challenging one if optimum combine output is to be maintained and the trailer is to be evenly filled to capacity. The new V2V technology from CASE IH represents a significant advance here, because thanks to wireless technology, the position, travel speed, and function of both vehicles is synchronised precisely.
Extension of the Case IH AFS system
V2V complements the established Case IH AFS system, which is the basic requirement for machines to which V2V is to be fitted. In addition, both machines need to be equipped with the AFS AccuGuide for tractors and combines, as well as with an AFS Pro screen with CANbus interface.
The V2V system is completed by a Bluetooth adapter on both tractor and combine. In addition, the newly developed synchronisation software for control of travel speed, engine speed, and gear ratio must be installed.
How it works in practice
During work, the combine is operated, using the AccuGuide active guidance system, which controls its track. The V2V system then creates an active area to the left and behind the combine. This is a virtual field, inside which the tractor and trailer are automatically guided.
Outside this active area, the tractor functions independently in the normal manner.
When the tractor enters the active area, the V2V guiding system takes over its positional steering. For this, the combine transmits synchronisation impulses to the tractor, within a maximum range of 100 metres. The fore/aft and side-to-side synchronisation and the co-ordination of forward speed are achieved via the Bluetooth connection between the CANbus-integrated circuits on the tractor and the combine. Different types of tractor can be controlled.
Combine driver co-ordinates the transfer process
For unloading on the move, the combine driver starts the process, after confirming with the tractor driver. By now, theV2V – system has positioned the tactor correctly to the combine. The V2V regulates the tractor’s travel speed and keeps it in step with the speed and the relative position of the combine. The driver can then extend the unloading auger and begin discharging grain.
Safe and stress-free working
In practice, the system has numerous advantages, mainly reducing the likelihood of collision between tractor and combine cutterbar, and less potential for grain spillage. For both operators, that means less stress during long harvest days. And quicker, safer, more precise unloading means greater harvest efficiency.
The system is available as an upgrade kit for the CASE IH AFS AccuGuide system, for models from year 2012.