exatrek records the ISOBUS data of compatible implements and makes it available in evaluated form in the exatrek web portal. In this way, the sowing rates, as well as the quantities of commercial fertiliser and crop protection agents applied, can be documented fully automatically for specific fields. You can find more information on fertiliser application in our October Update 2020.
How does the fully automatic, batch-specific documentation work? It's simple! In the video we show how easy it is to record ISOBUS data with exatrek.
The John Deere 7430 in our video, which is used for sowing, is equipped with a T2 adapter. In this way, the sowing rate is documented fully automatically for each specific field. This is made possible by the ISOBUS Task Controller on the T2 telemetry module, which retrieves the data from the tractor and implement in the background - without the driver having to do anything. The recorded data is available in evaluated form in the exatrek WebApp on the day of sowing. As proof of work, a PDF report of the operation including GPS track can be created. As the sowing quantities are recorded georeferenced by the integrated GNSS antenna of the T2, the sensor values can be further processed into zone maps. Furthermore, key figures such as fuel consumption, operating hours of the machines or the total costs of the work operations are recorded. Based on the application maps of the ISOBUS implement, machine data such as driving speed, slip and working depth can also be determined. In this way, maps are created during soil cultivation on which even the smallest differences in soil structure can be seen. This information can then be used, for example, as a basis for agronomic measures.
What is ISOBUS?
The introduction of ISOBUS has revolutionized the agricultural industry and made everyday tasks easier to manage. ISOBUS is the common name for agricultural data bus applications that conform to the ISO 11783 standard ("Serial control and communications data network"). This standard defines the physical characteristics - connectors and wires, the type of participants, the data formats and interfaces of the network. ISOBUS standardises data communication between tractor, implement and farm management and ensures data exchange worldwide.
What are the benefits of the ISOBUS system?
The biggest advantage is clearly the ease of operation and handling: no tangled cables and no additional control boxes in the cab, control of the implements via the joystick on the tractor, only two or three hydraulic hoses to couple, even with very complicated implements. In addition, the clear view in the tractor cab increases safety. Several functions on the implement can be easily operated and changed from the tractor seat while driving. In addition, modern technology offers the possibility of: displaying, changing, saving and recalling setting values. Thanks to this possibility, an implement can be optimally adjusted much more easily. In addition, the purchase of only one terminal saves immense costs. In addition, ISOBUS increases operational efficiency and optimises time sequences through the exchange of data between the farm PC and the terminal.
As a result, the cab becomes an on-board computer for controlling the machine and implements, which can exchange information with each other in real time.
The ISOBUS standard is a great thing. Goal - full clarity and flawless documentation!
Short summary of the video content:
- Office furnishings
Before ISOBUS data can be recorded on the T2 module, you must activate the ISOBUS task controller license. This license is an additional license, it is not included in every account after activation. Secondly, you must activate the ISOBUS Task Controller for the relevant machine. For the activation of the license, it is best to talk to your consultant.
To perform the setup, you must first log back into the web portal. You open the vehicle menu and select the appropriate vehicle. Once you have selected one, click on the three dots on the right and a small menu will open. There you select the pencil for editing, now you can change the vehicle settings. At the bottom you will find several checkboxes, one is "Task Controller (DataLog) active", this is compatible with ISOBUS devices from ISOBUS 3.5. As soon as this is activated, a second checkbox opens, the "Task Controller Compatibility Mode". This is important if the ISOBUS devices are older or ISOBUS 3.5 is not supported. So you activate the task controller (DataLog) and click on save. The whole thing must be done before the data acquisition on the machine! Important: If the machine is already on the move when the task controller is activated, the T2 must be restarted so that the new settings are adopted.
- Sowing according to application map
The aim of spreading with ISOBUS according to application map - optimising the use of operating resources! The John Deere 7430 is equipped with a T2 module mounted on the B-pillar. The ISOBUS Task Controller runs on the module and records the data from the Amazone ADP-Super seed drill. A seed rate of 180 kg per ha is set. Depending on the position of the tractor the seed rate changes to 176kg per ha, this is due to the deposit of the prescription map. In addition, you can monitor the work progress in the app.
- Back in the office
Once the sowing is finished, the evaluation can take place! It is important to know that the data is uploaded to the exatrek web portal approx. 20 minutes after the tractor has been switched off. You start the evaluation by clicking on the menu item Activities. After that you choose the activity you want to evaluate, in the map you can see the lanes. In addition, you can view additional values such as the target application rate, the actual application rate and the actual speed. In our case, the setpoint and actual value match quite closely. The target value comes from the prescription map and was not entered into the terminal on site.
In order to see the distribution of the seed in the area you have to open the field under the menu item Fields and select the desired field. Immediately you can see the different measures that have been carried out on the selected field. In order to see the spatial distribution of the measure you have to click on Interpolation and select the desired measure. Now you can interpolate the target value or the actual value of the application rate on the map. The result is a zone map. You can now easily evaluate and compare the values.
Now you should know how to track the data of an ISOBUS machine, from the acquisition on the machine to the web portal. We installed the Task Controller on the T2, observed the machines during sowing and then viewed the total values of the sowing intensity in the portal. In addition, we looked at the spatial distribution of the seeding intensity. So with exatrek you can easily display the complete data flow, from the application map to the map of the application rate.
Of course, the whole thing works not only with a seed drill but also with all other ISOBUS devices, which means that bales can also be counted and nutrient quantities of slurry drums can be documented with an NIRS sensor. Important: The whole thing works without the driver having to do anything! Reliable documentation! Independent of the driver!
In the next post, we'll take a closer look at the benefits of the exatrek app when threshing corn. See you in the next post!
