Telemetry

Managing machinery from the office may once have been a fantasy, but with the latest developments from AGCO’s Advanced Technology Solutions, it is now very much a reality. Innovative precision agriculture technology takes us into the future.

The new Fleet Management and Remote Diagnostics System uses telemetry—the automatic measurement and transmission of data from a remote source—to allow operators to monitor and track machinery remotely. This gives operators the ability to manage equipment and employees in real-time, right from their office.

James Lang, General Marketing Manager for AGCO Australia Limited is excited by the prospects of the new technology.

“Telemetry based systems allow operators to control their machinery in a way never experienced before. Remote diagnostics mean that the machinery can be managed better, smarter and more efficiently for increased productivity and reduced costs,” says James.

For contractors or large operations this technology offers a lot of advantages such as knowing instantly when a machine should be serviced, if a machine is being abused or how efficient a particular operator is. Timely, accurate reporting and invoicing of jobs is also effortless with automated report recording reducing time spent in the office calculating hours.

Especially valuable for remote customers, the system will allow dealers to diagnose issues and update software quickly and remotely, decreasing the need for service call outs. Understanding how the machine is running will also allow the operator to monitor potential problems and perform preventative maintenance before they equate to downtime.

The system also eliminates downtime on necessary tasks such as re-fuelling and re-filling seeders. These tasks can now be planned so that resources aren’t extended unnecessarily; meaning workers and machinery aren’t sitting around at the headland waiting. The system can also shut down a machine by remote if necessary for safety reasons.

Currently AGCO is operating telemetry systems on 550 Fendt tractors in Western Europe, while 750 systems are in operation in Norway for contracting services.

The system allows the operator to know the location of their machinery and what it is doing. Enabling communication with operators on a regular basis, the system manages workers’ activities effectively, documenting their operation for employee benchmarking.

Customers in trials overseas have also reported many tangible and valuable benefits from using the system. Tractor fleet owners in the Brazilian sugar cane industry are using the system to monitor and record efficiency of their operators. With the system, drivers are offered incentives to look after the machine.

The operators have recorded a minimum 15% reduction in operating costs due to the increased efficiency and reduced maintenance of their fleet.

Similarly, a harvesting team in Western Europe have experienced a 9% increase in productivity as their combines are kept working longer with less downtime, while the tracking feature also monitors where the machines are at all times and redirects them to where they are needed.

According to James, the telemetry based Fleet Management & Remote Diagnostics System will be trialled in Australia and New Zealand over this harvesting season.

“The system should be available in our market, post trials, in 2009. We will be putting the system through its paces and we expect that, if overseas trials are anything to go by, local trials will indicate the same amazing benefits, if not superior benefits for our customers.” says James Lang.