Winners Announced for Agritechnica Innovation Award 2019

Organizer of Agritechnica 2019 DLG (German Agricultural Society) has announced winners for this year's Agritechnica Innovation Awards. Winner of the Gold Innovation Award 2019 is the eAutoPower gearbox e8WD for 8R large tractors by John Deere (Walldorf). It was jointly developed with Joskin. 

The gearbox is an electro-mechanical power split design for agricultural machines. Instead of the typical hydro unit composed of a pump and motor there are two electric motors which are used as a continuously variable actuator. The motors supply the drive as well as up to 100 kW of electric power for external consumption. This enables tractor-implement electrification through the solution developed with Joskin; two axles on a tridem spreader can be electrically driven by the motors. 

Electrical integration provides improved gearbox efficiencies and reduced maintenance for the tractor. Surplus power flows occurring at certain operating points can also be accessed when using electric power for external electrical components, further improving efficiency. Additional benefits when paired with the Joskin implement include higher traction, reduced slip and improved track guidance on side slopes.

John Deere can be found in Hall 13, stand C40 and Joskin in Hall 4, stand C12. 

The John Deere eAutoPower gearbox e8WD for 8R large tractors is an electro-mechanical powersplit technology.

All exhibiting companies at Agritechnica are eligible to enter the awards competition. An independent commission comprised of scientists researchers and consultants evaluate the submissions. The Gold Innovation Award is presented to those products which are a new concept, functionality or application that improves operations for farmers. 

Innovations in the agricultural industry are awarded Gold or Silver awards from an independent commission.

Additional agricultural innovations honored

DLG also awarded 39 Silver Innovation Awards. Silver Innovation Awards recognize innovations that have been enhanced so as to provide a substantial improvement to the agricultural industry. 

Fendt IDEALDrive, AGCO International Hall 20, stand B14

IDEALDrive eliminates the steering column and steering wheel from the operator cab to provide an unobstructed view in front of a combine harvester. The driver's seat is instead equipped with a left-hand armrest with joystick. All functions normally found on a steering column are integrated into the armrest. The IDEALDrive is the first self-propelled agricultural machine completely operated with a joystick.

Fendt IDEALDrive removes the steering wheel and column to provide an unobstructed view in front of the combine.

Automated Vehicle and Implement Guidance in Wine-Growing, Fendt, Hall 20, Stand B14b Joint development with Braun Maschinenbau, Hall 20, B14f

Laser technology is used to record the ground contour, vines, poles, etc.; information is then passed to the Fendt 200V Vario narrow-track tracktor via an ISOBUS interface. The 3D position is determined using a gyroscope and that information guides the track and implement. Height and width of implements on the left and right between the axles can be controlled independently of one another. The system's goal is to reduce strain on drivers and help provide increased output. 

The automated vehicle and implement guidance system jointly developed by Fendt and Braun considerably increases output in wine-growing tasks.

398 MPT High Speed Flotation Truck Tire , Alliance Tire Europe, Hall 4, stand C28

The Alliance 398 MPT enables fast driving on roadways. Its tread design and reduced tire inflation pressure provide good traction and reduced compaction in fields. Steel belts and a steel body minimize heat buildup at high driving speeds and flexibility to adjust to terrain. 

Read more about the 398 MPT tire.

The Alliance 398 MPT enables fast driving on motorways and excellent traction in farm fields.

CEMOS AUTO Performance, CLAAS, Hall 13, C02

This system is a combined engine output/forward speed control on forage harvesters.

CEMOS AUTO Performance matches engine output to the work at hand by altering the power curve. In the field, the operator starts the assistance system and selects an engine speed, a forward speed and one out of 10 engine power curves. After the autopilot is started, the forager and the tractor trailer combination start working. The preset engine speed is accepted directly by the forager and is maintained by the automatic control system. When it turns out that the preset power output is too high for the present crop, the system automatically switches to a lower and more efficient output range while maintaining the current forward speed and engine speed. Vice versa, the system switches to a higher output range when harvesting higher-yielding stands.

The automatic engine output control eases the strain on both the forager and driver in a very convenient way, and leads to environment-friendly fuel savings of up to 15%. 

CEMOS AUTO Performance matches engine output to the work at hand by altering the power curve.

ISOMAX, CNH Industrial Italy, Pavilion 11, stand C01

Joint development with OSB AG, Pavillon 11, Stand C02; Fliegl Agrartechnik, Hall 04 Stand A40; and Competence Center ISOBUS, Hall 27, stand G33

ISOMAX from AGXTEND (trademark) represents a new solution for future ISOBUS applications. The fully AEF (Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation)-certified system is universal, comprehensive and comprises all elements including the connector and the ECU. ISOMAX can be operated via any ISOBUS terminal. As such, it allows owners of older implements to retrofit these with the technology and connect it to the tractor's ISOBUS system. The open-source ISOBUS Dev Kit allows electronics-minded farmers, pupils, students and also electronic professionals to develop ISOBUS-compatible solutions at very little cost. As ISOMAX provides automatic implement recognition and the ISOBUS "TC-GEO" function, it does not require operators to enter the data manually. In addition, it provides the basis for implementing precision farming. For example, the machine dimensions are automatically communicated to the tractor’s steering system. A built-in MEMS (micro electro-mechanical systems) sensor logs reliable field and road times, and actual working hours.  ISOMAX is comprised all necessary elements, including the connector an ECU for use in future ISOBUS applications.

R-Connect Monitor, ROPA, Hall 25, Stand H07 and SmartView Grimme, Hall 25, Stand G06

"SmartView" from Grimme focuses on monitoring the cleaning and sorting processes on potato harvesters that also involves the pickers and the operator who use and interact via the system. Offering zooming features, live slow motion and customized camera views on the Multi-Touch display screen, the system improves the monitoring of the crop flow and eliminates the need for adjusting cameras by hand. The "R-Connect Monitor” from ROPA focuses on intelligent and fully automated camera feeds from the sugar beet harvester to the so-called “R-Connect” Internet portal that offers a farm management and logistics management platform. The camera feeds of the standing beet crop before harvest and the feeds from the unloading elevator are made available on the Internet platform, helping managers to monitor the processing quality on the harvester, as well as machine data and job assignments, so managers can support operators remotely.

The two products represent a first step towards fully automated harvester set-ups. In addition, offering the opportunity to optimize the processes on the harvester, the systems will also save avoidable (travel) costs for service engineers and improve the logistics and consequently the quality of the crop as it is delivered to the factory.

"SmartView" from Grimme focuses on monitoring the cleaning and sorting processes on potato harvesters that also involves the pickers and the operator who use and interact via the system.

VENTUM, HORTECH, Hall 21, stand F04

The VENTUM self-propelled harvester is the first machine to combine the stages of harvesting, processing and packaging into one automated process. After the crop is harvested, it travels on a system of various conveyor belts operating at different speeds to the processing unit. The technology also spreads and scatters the crops. Foreign objects and unwanted particles are separated by blowing the material over a 30 cm gap onto another belt. In a final step, the cleaned, weighed and boxed produce is automatically transferred to a transport vehicle.

The VENTUM self-propelled harvester automates all harvesting, processing and packaging stages, presenting a substantial improvement to efficiency and quality in vegetable harvesting, thereby increasing productivity and reducing costs.

The VENTUM self-propelled harvester is the first machine to combine the stages of harvesting, processing and packaging into one automated process.

See the full list of award winners in DLG's original press release.

DLG has also introduced an innovation award for components and systems called the 'Systems & Components Trophy - Engineers' Choice.' Twenty nominees have been announced, and the award will be given out on November 10 during Agritechnica 2019. 

Read more about the new components and systems award.