Argo Tractors’ driver assist system awarded at Eima

The Advanced Driving System for the Landini REX 4 received the coveted Technical Innovation Award 2018, which is given during EIMA, the trade show dedicated to farming equipment held in Bologna.

“At Argo Tractors – said Antonio Salvaterra, Marketing Director of the industrial group based in Reggio Emilia – we believe that this award further validates our continued research efforts aimed at improving comfort, safety and performance, which are at the core of our corporate mission”.

Specialty tractors require a great deal of effort on the part of the operator, who needs to control both the vehicle and implements. Based on this consideration, the Advanced Driving System aims to enhance operator comfort by making it easier to control and manage operations rather than driving the vehicle. Landini REX 4 is equipped with an innovative hybrid driver assist system that uses cutting-edge mechatronic technologies to assist operators in manoeuvring both in field and road operation, that makes steering stiffer as a function of speed – using the same principle adopted in cars – and causes the wheels to return to the central position automatically after a turn. This new technology solution also offers connection to satellite guidance, memorisation 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 used.

Optimal efficiency in field operation is ensured by a multi-function “all-in-one” joystick controlling hydraulics (up to 7 electro-hydraulic spool valves), electronic management of daily hours of operation, field and service registers via Landini Fleet Management protocol, as well as by the availability of real-time remote diagnosis. All of this can be conveniently managed from the tractor fleet manager’s desk.

Introducing this technology brings many advantages. Firstly, the operator is free to concentrate on row operations, while the tractor ECU takes care of driving, recording hours of operation, consumption and service requirements thanks to the IoT service, a world première in specialty tractors. Additional advantages benefit the fleet manager, who relies on a web platform to manage scheduled maintenance and troubleshooting and manage field register upkeep automatically. Last but not least, tractor benefits from ongoing diagnosis, which reduces exposure and monitors the mechanical and electronic stresses typically associated with conventional driving.