A year of global challenges
As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.
Operating specialty tractors in vineyards, orchards and vegetable farms requires lots of operator effort to control vehicle and implements, usually in areas with restricted access.
So the Advanced Driving System aims to enhance operator comfort by making it easier to control and manage operations rather than just driving the vehicle.
Landini Rex 4 series tractors can now be equipped with an innovative, hybrid driver-assist system that uses ‘mechatronic’ technologies to assist operators in manoeuvring in field and road, using the same principle adopted in cars: these make steering lighter or heavier as speed fluctuates, and they return the wheels to the central position automatically after a turn.
The new technology also offers connection to satellite guidance, memory and control of wheel position during slope and in-furrow operation and offsets the effects of external stresses on tractor steering accuracy. In addition, the operator can manage the functions of the machinery from a single terminal, as the monitor configuration automatically changes according to the functions being used.
Optimal efficiency in field operation is by a multi-function all-in-one joystick controlling up to seven electro-hydraulic spool valves.
Electronic management of operating hours, field and service reminders is handled by the Landini Fleet Management system that also allows real-time remote diagnosis from the tractor fleet manager’s desk.
Benefits of the system include leaving the operator free to concentrate on row operations, and the tractor ECU takes care of driving, recording operating hours, fuel consumption and service reminders.
Also, the fleet manager can manage scheduled maintenance or troubleshooting while managing field records automatically.
