Agricultural technology specialists Krone and Lemken are expanding the range of applications for their autonomous process unit by utilising the front attachment space
 |
|
The ‘Combined Powers’ project marks a decisive step towards efficiency and innovation in modern agriculture
|
Their collaborative ‘Combined Powers’ project aims to not only advance the development of autonomous process units but also the associated work processes.
Insights from field trials conducted in 2022 and 2023 have been incorporated into the optimisation and further development of various features of the process units.
The integration of a front linkage with a PTO shaft has significantly improved the functionality of the autonomous process unit, resulting in two separate, intelligent attachment spaces, now available. This can be used in both grassland and arable farming, the brands say.
For instance, grassland specialist Krone saw improved mowing efficiency with the use of a front-rear combination, pairing the Krone EasyCut F 320 front-mounted mower with the Butterfly EasyCut B 950 Collect. Lemken, on the other hand, utilises the additional function, particularly in the areas of stubble cultivation and sowing, where rollers and front hoppers can now be easily carried and used.
The VTEs (autonomous process units) were further developed taking into account ease of maintenance, practicality, and optimisation of the sensor carriers. Another highlight is the improvement in the diesel-electric drive. The new generation of machines retains its power output of 170kW/230hp, featuring four-wheel steering with large tyres for maximum tractive power and minimum ground pressure.
 |
|
The advanced autonomous tractor units enable large-scale practical trials
|
The transport solution presented at Agritechnica 2023, using a drawbar (VTS = Vehicle Transport System), is possible even in combination with front-mounted implements. The new tractor units are characterised by their uniform paintwork in dynamic platinum grey.
The ‘Combined Powers’ project marks a decisive step towards efficiency and innovation in modern agriculture. The advanced autonomous tractor units from Krone and Lemken enable large-scale practical trials and significantly improve the reliability of autonomous processes. The test deployments take place on various farms in Germany and neighbouring European countries to evaluate the functionality and communication of the autonomous process units (VTE) using various implements under real conditions.
Krone and Lemken rely on open interfaces and are actively engaging with other implement manufacturers to exploit synergies and create added value for the customer. Both companies are committed to further developing the product in close cooperation with practising farmers and to making it marketable as quickly as possible. This will create forward-looking solutions to address the impending shortage of skilled agricultural labour by enabling farmers to act as system operators of autonomously operating machines in the future and to focus more closely on arable farming issues and farm management tasks.
Find new and used farm machinery for sale in NZ