“Operators need quick, seamless access to their machine’s telematics no matter where the job takes them, and our Bobcat Machine IQ packages are designed to put all that information at their fingertips. Now, our customers can access this data through the Machine IQ mobile app, an easy-to-use, intuitive option to help better manage their equipment and maintenance needs on the go,”

said Wendi Majerus, digital business product manager at Doosan Bobcat North America.

Providing this fully integrated user experience, machine and fleet information can now be accessed by operators through two options: the existing Bobcat Owner Portal and from the new Bobcat Machine IQ mobile platform. The new Machine IQ app delivers simplified, streamlined data directly to mobile devices, helping customers monitor machine location and health, and maximize uptime.

The app is free for Bobcat customers and uses the same login information as the Bobcat Owner Portal. It is available on both iOS and Android operating systems. Simply search for ‘Bobcat Machine IQ’ in the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and download.

Machine IQ Basics Package

The Machine IQ Basics package is a subscription service that allows customers to effectively manage their machines. The service is free for the first three years from the original equipment purchase date. Machine IQ Basic features include:

• Basic Telematics – Tracks key information points, including GPS location and history, operating hours, and last recorded fuel levels.
• Custom Asset Name – Allows customers to create personalized names to quickly identify machines in a fleet.
• Maintenance Interval Tracking – Tracks regular planned maintenance and custom maintenance schedules and allows customers to view high-level instructions in the portal for each.

Machine IQ Health and Security Package

The Machine IQ Health and Security package gives customers the ability to upgrade their machine subscription to proactively monitor their equipment. It includes all Machine IQ Basic features plus the following advanced features.

• Maintenance Reminder Email Alerts – Notifies customers via email when they are approaching regular maintenance. The alert provides high-level information on how to perform regular maintenance as well as on relevant parts. Customers can access the regular maintenance tracker to see what planned maintenance is coming up, and also sign up for mobile push notifications to go directly to their phones. This quickly alerts them to maintenance reminders, fault code alerts, as well as geofence and curfew breaches.
• Fault Code Notifications and Troubleshooting – Distributes alerts, a clear description, and troubleshooting steps if the machine reports a fault code. Customers can also subscribe to email notifications for alerts and troubleshooting.
• Geofence Creation and Breach Notification – Provides customers with the ability to set up custom boundaries and receive email notifications the moment the machine leaves the specified operation footprint.
• Curfew Creation and Breach Notifications – Alerts customers via email if their equipment is being operated outside of designated days or hours.
• Machine Utilization Reporting – Tracks machine efficiency and utilization to help customers make more informed decisions. The feature compares idle time, working time and fuel usage as well as generates custom reports.
• In-Portal Notification Management – Gives customers the ability to monitor notifications within the portal. A clear notification counter on the home page provides a singular place to manage all important machine notifications.

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The Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation (AEF) announced today it is introducing the updated AEF ISOBUS Database (DB) app to give agricultural equipment dealers, manufacturers, and end-users a convenient way to access its database, the only comprehensive repository of all ISOBUS compatible products in the world. Users may now easily drill down by brand, product, or ISOBUS functionality to confirm product compatibility while in the office or in the field, for free.

“With so many different manufacturers creating a wide scope of agricultural products around the world, when you start using different brands together, they are not always technologically compatible. However, when products all share the same ‘nerve system,’ more commonly known as the ‘ISOBUS,’ they communicate seamlessly. The AEF ISOBUS DB app identifies which products on the market are compatible and are ISOBUS-certified,”

said Andrew Olliver, Vice Chairman, AEF.

Through the AEF’s app, the agricultural equipment community may now look up a product’s ISOBUS compatibility, find information if a customer is having trouble in the field, research ISOBUS compatibility of new equipment and accessories, or identify ISOBUS functions. Information can be shared with others through the app using messaging tools such as WhatsApp or email.

Only products that are AEF ISOBUS certified are listed in the AEF ISOBUS Database. Currently, there are approximately 80 companies listing their certified ISOBUS products in the database, a number that keeps growing.

“This is an incredibly useful tool, especially for ag equipment dealers, when they have to advise their customers on their next ISOBUS equipment purchase. Dealers will find the app’s new module and option views essential,”

said Olliver.

In the app’s module view, users can view detailed information about ISOBUS products, such as the individual controllers to see exactly which functionality they support. This helps dealers make product recommendations, as well as diagnose service compatibility issues.

The options view provides the ability to view the compatibility of multiple product features.

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MOBOTIC – Mobile Robotic Technologies – is a company exclusively dedicated to Mobile Robotic applications on the level of key Systems and components. Mobotic provides solutions to the manufacturers of indoor AGVs and AMRs, outdoor mobile machinery and electric vehicles in agriculture, security and surveillance, and last-mile logistics and mobility.

Their offering is organized in the following product segments: drive systems, autonomous driving, energy management, and vehicle control and connectivity. Agriculture is one of the key strategic market segments for Mobotic and therefore they are developing customized systems especially for the agricultural mobile robotics operating in vineyards, open fields, polytunnels, greenhouses, and increasingly in indoor vertical farms.

Integrated steered traction unit is an established concept for indoor omnidirectional mobile robots. This made the main challenge for Mobotic engineers to make it more protected and robust for harsher outdoor agricultural environments without losing the performance, compactness, and compliance with all safety industrial standards applicable to indoor and outdoor electric mobile machinery.

The unit has a load capacity of up to 1.000kg with up to 500Nm of maximum torque on the wheels and has two main sub-systems: steering disc and traction unit. The steering disc is able to output an incredible torque of 200Nm and ensure rotary movements at well over 90deg/s. The steering disc integrates a slip ring system for endless rotation and at the same eliminates all well-known cabling challenges. The slip ring not only transmits the power supply, but also CAN communication and safety-critical signals from the vehicle safety controller.

The traction unit integrates a brushless PM synchronous motor specially designed for traction applications with a wide torque-speed range of optimum efficiency, high-quality planetary gearbox for integration inside the wheel, integrated electro-magnetic parking and emergency brake with an optional manual release lever and position sensor with outputs for motor control and speed supervision.

There are several configuration possible providing a wide torque-speed range exceeding 500Nm of torque and 15km/h of translational motion

Both brushless steering and traction motors are controlled by integrated motor controllers. On top of all this Mobotic can offer a VCU (Vehicle Control Unit) designed especially for electric vehicles, plus a powerful master computer that can control and supervise the complete 4WD with eight drives in real-time. VCU can act as a master vehicle computer controlling also other systems like BMS, battery charger, auxiliary motors (pumps, actuators, etc…).

A very sophisticated system, but assembled from best and proven sub-components, it shortens the validation times at the manufacturers of agricultural mobile robots and also enables the scalability of the solution for reasonable engineering cost.

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Another improvement John Deere made to the Operations Center is the addition of the new Work Planner feature farmers can use to streamline their work setup experience and help operators start working more quickly in the field.

Going forward, farmers can use the Operations Center to collect and securely store their field, crop, and machine data from their connected machines for easy analysis and decision making. Since the system is cloud-based, it eliminates the need for transferring data via USB sticks.

“We know farmers are always on the move, which makes the mobile app version of the Operations Center, more important than ever. That’s why John Deere has made improvements to both versions, web, and mobile, to make them look and function in a similar manner, so farmers have clear and easy access to their data from any device.”

said Jennifer Badding, go-to-market manager – digital technology, with John Deere.

To get the most from John Deere precision ag technologies, Badding said farmers need four things: a Generation 4 CommandCenter display, a StarFire receiver, a JDLink connection, and the Operations Center.

“A Generation 4 display gives farmers control of machine functions with more precision, right from the cab, and the StarFire receiver ensures accurate positioning. JDLink serves as the wireless connection between their machines and streams data from the Generation 4 display to the Operations Center.”

Using the Operations Center’s Work Planner feature, farmers can now define field-specific work details such as variety, prescription, or guidance lines in advance to simplify the operator’s job in the cab.

The improved Operations Center brings clarity and organization to farm data management, and can help farmers set up, plan, and monitor their fieldwork, and analyze their data to make sound business decisions:

• Setup fields, varieties, and products and sync them to the display via a JDLink connection.
• Plan fieldwork with the Work Planner to keep your operators efficient and reduce data entry errors.
• Monitor your equipment and fieldwork from anywhere using the Operations Center mobile app to optimize productivity and job quality.
• Analyze the performance of fields, varieties, and products with the new Analysis tools to turn this year’s results into next year’s plans.

The improved Operations Center is active online, and the iOS version for Apple mobile products is available in the Apple App Store. 

The post John Deere Releases Significant Enhancements For Its Popular Operations Center appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

Fendt introduces the Fendt 900 Vario MT Series track tractors. New to the expanding line of Fendt tractors for North America, 900 Vario MT tractors deliver a high level of track tractor performance, ride comfort and operating efficiency, backed by a warranty that provides reliable uptime to ensure the work gets done.

Tom Turner, strategic marketing manager at AGCO, says:

“We’re excited to bring the Fendt track tractors to producers throughout North America. The 900 Vario MT tractors exemplify Fendt’s legacy of reliability with the efficiency, ride comfort and power producers require to get big jobs done day after day.”

The Fendt 900 Vario MT is available in three models from 380 to 431 horsepower, powered by AGCO Power 9.8-liter diesel engines equipped with concentric air systems (CAS) for efficiency-enhancing cooling and enhanced engine life. The tractors feature the convenience and smooth, seamless speed control of the Fendt VarioDrive continuously variable transmission (CVT), combined with Fendt iD low-rev engine operating technology that delivers 1,500 foot-pounds of torque at 1,100 rpm, for maximum torque and great fuel efficiency.

Reliable uptime is a matter of Fendt pride

As with all Fendt products, the 900 Vario MT tractors are backed by the Gold Star Customer Care warranty and maintenance program to provide customers with reliable uptime. This warranty isn’t just a matter of pride; it is part of the Fendt legacy that began 400 years ago when the Fendt family began fabricating precision clocks that were each personally serviced and maintained.

The Fendt Gold Star Customer Care Plan is a commitment to uptime all the time. It also helps ensure exceptional resale value. The warranty provides three years or 3,000 hours of full machine coverage, including all scheduled routine maintenance and all other repairs, as required. In most cases, dealers have the parts needed to keep customers’ operations moving or will have them in less than 24 hours. Fendt dealers and their certified technicians use only the highest-caliber diagnostic tools. If the tractor can’t be repaired in 48 hours, Fendt Customer Care provides a loaner tractor.

Efficient operating power when it’s needed

Fendt 900 Vario MT tractors are designed to operate with optimum efficiency. All systems, including the hydraulics and 2-speed PTO, run at lower engine rpm for lower fuel costs and reduced engine wear.

The Fendt-exclusive dual-pump, dual-circuit hydraulic system delivers up to 116 gpm of hydraulic oil flow. This unique two-pump system allows operators to connect implements according to oil pressure and flow requirements, high or low. It keeps full capacity on reserve until the tractor is paired with an implement with high hydraulic demands or until the connected implement requires additional hydraulic power. The tractors also are available with a single hydraulic pump providing 58 gpm at 1700 rpm. Like other Fendt tractors, the 900 Vario MT has separate hydraulic oil reservoirs for the implement and vehicle hydraulic systems, preventing cross-contamination and extending the service interval to two years or 2,000 hours.

Optional flat-face hydraulic couplers are energy-efficient and easy to connect and operate at full pressure, with minimal oil leaks during coupling, keeping the tractor, the operator and the environment cleaner. Since the system is designed to maintain pressure, oil does not heat up as much and energy consumption for cooling is reduced.

Fendt 900 Vario MT tractors are equipped with a standard Category 3/4N three-point hitch with 19,000-pound lift capacity and a 2-speed 1000 and 1000E PTO shaft. The tractors offer standard gauge settings from 72 to 88 inches, wide-gauge settings of 72 to 120 inches and three track styles in six widths from 16 to 34 inches.

Three stages of suspension for exceptional ride comfort

AGCO’s patented Mobil-trac system (MTS), designed with a long wheelbase for more stability, is renowned for delivering power to the ground, setting the 900 Vario MT Series apart from other track tractors in the industry. The steel hardbar acts as a front axle, attaching to the forward point of the roller frame and providing up to 11 degrees of oscillation, to improve ride and minimize compaction.

Turner says:

“Operators receive a noticeably different level of ride comfort when operating the 900 Vario MT tractors, especially over terraces and rough field surfaces. The Smart Ride system combines oscillating midwheels, hardbar suspension and cab suspension, giving operators great ride quality without sacrificing the in-field benefits of power, control and traction. The tractors also handle well at the maximum road speed of 25 mph, and ride comfort on the road is noticeably better than other track tractors.”

The oscillating midwheels contour to the ground over terraces and uneven surfaces, providing unmatched track-to-ground contact, improving performance and comfort.

The primary suspension has rugged coil springs and high-capacity shock absorbers for a more comfortable ride compared to hydro-pneumatic suspension systems. The two-point cab suspension system with increased suspension at the rear of the cab absorbs and dissipates the vibration from the ground through the rear axle.

Intuitive, 10.4-inch touchscreen for easier use

Engineered for operator convenience and productivity, the Fendt 900 VARIO MT tractors feature an easy-to-use 10.4-inch touchscreen Varioterminal that has an intuitive, smartphone feel. Using the Varioterminal, operators can easily manage all tractor settings and adjustments, plus monitor and control ISOBUS 11783-compatible implements, camera functions, field documentation, variable rate applications, guidance and wireless data transfer, and headland management. The Varioterminal, joystick, PTO controls and conveniently color-coded keypad put all tasks and functions within easy reach of the operator’s fingertips, for faster operation and less operator distraction and fatigue.

Cab offers comfort and productivity-boosting conveniences inside and out

Owners and operators will appreciate the fit and finish of the spacious, comfortable cabs as well as the many exterior features that bring comfort and convenience to the Fendt 900 Vario MT tractors. The cabs offer a variety of amenities, including an air-ride seat, larger instructor’s seat and Bluetooth capability.

An LED light package adds more lights at the rear of the tractor, positioned to provide a clear view of each end of a 24-row planter during late nights in the field. Porch lighting on the cab provides a safe view of the area for operators leaving the field after a long day, and the battery smart-disconnect automatically powers everything down for the night. The 900 Vario MT also has an integrated walk-around platform that provides secure, fast access for cleaning windows.

As a full-line equipment manufacturer with a broad portfolio of leading equipment brands, AGCO will continue to offer the Challenger MT700 and MT800 track tractors to meet the diverse needs of customers throughout North America.

Source: AGCO

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AGCO Connect allows customers and dealers to connect their AGCO mixed fleet under one simple and easy to use platform from anywhere, at any time. Customers can see the current status of their machines and how their machines have been performing in terms of fuel levels and consumption rates, engine hours and time to service, and current and historical positioning–all communicated over a secure data platform. The benefits include logistics management, remote accessibility, and more informed decision making abilities.

Dealers have a selection of tools to enable proactive and insightful service delivery, such as diagnostic support features, to help with planning and forecasting service support for customers. Dealers also have an overview of machine activity,including service requirements, error codes, machine and owner information, and the ability to assist with remote diagnostics, allowing customer support to begin quickly and remotely.

A unique feature of AGCO Connect lets customers and dealers personalize their Connect application by choosing a preferred brand, including AGCO Connect, Challenger Connect, Fendt Connect, and MF Connect. Regardless of the brand application, all users will receive the same data depending onthe customer or dealer interface.

“Our latest telemetry solution is built upon the needs of our customers and dealers,” says Matt Wong, Director, Fuse North America. “AGCO Connect allows you to have real-time information about your equipment in the palm of your hand through the mobile app,or on a computer. With this latest innovative, modern, and intuitive smart farming solution, we’re excited for what the future holds for our customers and dealers.”

A free 1-year subscription is available to current high horsepower equipment owners, with new owners receiving a 3-year subscription. A three-year subscription is available for new application equipment owners, with more models eligible for subscriptions to follow.

This smart farming solution is a direct outcome of AGCO’s goal of a fully connected fleet that allows customers to track and optimize individual machine and fleet performance, and dealers to support customers faster and better, reducing machine downtime.

With this latest telemetry offering, customers and dealers are well-positioned to maximize their opportunities to be more efficient, empowering our customers to focus on what they love—farming.

source: AGCO press office

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