Momentum - March 2021 - 20

TODAY'S

ENGINEERING

DEERE HIGHLIGHTS DIGITAL
TECHNOLOGY VIA VIRTUAL REALITY
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY IS RAPIDLY
TRANSFORMING OFF-HIGHWAY EQUIPMENT,
giving users more functionality and higher
precision than is possible with human operators.
John Deere highlighted its advanced electronic
skills during the virtual CES 2021 conference in
January by giving remote booth attendees
virtual reality (VR) headsets that demonstrated
its technical prowess.
Deere highlighted its ExactEmerge planter
technology and its 8RX track-type tractor during
the virtual trade show. The two can be paired to
boost yields, letting operators plant seeds with
high precision even while running at 10 mph (16
km/h), double the rate possible with earlier
generations.
Using VR headsets mailed to selected users,
Deere provided a virtual look at the ways
technology is transforming agricultural
equipment. In a memorable segment, Deere
placed spectators in a trench so they could see
the significant differences between tractors
driving 5 mph and 10 mph. That segment of the
demonstration, which was somewhat reminiscent
of the movie scene where a boulder rolls towards
Indiana Jones, also showed viewers the precision
of the planting depth of seeds.
ExactEmerge uses more than 300 sensors and
140 processors to increase planting speed so
farmers can more closely hit the optimal time for
planting. Some estimates say that every day
missed from the 10 or so prime planting days
reduces yield by 1%. The planter also uses precise
depth and spacing requirements to maximize
crop yields.
" The row unit in combination with the tractor
is like a robot; there are 16 robots (the
ExactEmerge planting arms) working together, "
said Nancy Post, director of embedded software
and solutions at John Deere's Intelligent
Solutions Group. " They have electrified motors
that plant corn at 700 kernels per second or
2,800 soybeans per second. Within milliseconds,
each row unit has to open up and place the seed
and nutrient, then cover it up. "
While electronics on the planter manage this
accuracy, driving systems on the tractor utilize
GPS signals to provide precision well beyond
commercial accuracy, handling speed and
steering so operators can focus on other tasks.

20 March 2021

Deere's 8RX track-type tractor and planter can run at 10 mph to plant corn at 700 seeds
per second.
Automated driving has been upgraded to make turns at the end of rows,
even lifting equipment like planters to conserve materials and lessen drag.
Deere's Starfire GPS augmentation system lets the tractor drive precisely so
all tasks performed during the growing season are managed efficiently.
" We have our own satellite correction system that makes sure GPS
systems are very precise, " said Deanna Kovar, vice president of Precision Ag
at Deere. " Our augmented GPS technologies get to within 2.5 centimeters,
compared to cell phones which are around 5 meters. Operators can get
within 2.5 cm and come back months later and get to exactly the same spot
when they're applying fertilizer or weed control. "
Post noted that communications is a critical aspect of system technology.
The tractor and planter communicate using CAN buses and wireless, and the
tractor transmits a wealth of data to remote sites - either the cloud or the
farmer's system. Deere tractors now use 4G modems. Forthcoming 5G
systems will give farmers far more capability to gather and analyze data to
further improve efficiency.
" The bandwidth capability of 5G lets us explore computing at the edge, "
said Jahmy Hindman, Deere & Co.'s chief technology officer. " Now, most of
our computations are done on the machine. Increased bandwidth lets us
compute off-board at the edge. That opens up a world of computing
possibilities. "
He noted that artificial intelligence (AI) is a closely related tool. AI lets
Deere work with operators to analyze huge volumes of data to gain more
insight on vehicle performance and yield enhancement. Increased computing
power makes it easier to take advantage of rapidly advancing AI algorithms,
he added. n
By Terry Costlow, SAE's Truck & Off-Highway Engineering magazine

MOMENTUM
Momentum - March 2021

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