Spelle, 21 September 2011. ‘Krone ICAN‘ was introduced as a concept at Agritechnica 2009. ‘ICAN‘ is the ‘electronic side of Krone‘ which controls the machines’ internal electronic architecture and comprises innovative electronic systems that were developed in close cooperation with the ‘iGreen Project’, which was launched by the Germany’s Ministry of Education and Research in April 2009. iGreen is a non-commercial communication platform, an agricultural database that comprises field and GPS data and a knowledge base that is supplied with information by contractors, farmers and consultants. The idea is to set up a useful database for the farming world, which grows as ideas are exchanged and information is shared.

Here is an overview of the systems currently available from Krone:
Integral data communication with ISOBUS (CCI):
It is possible to transfer data from the machine to the office PC and vice versa by using the ISOXML exchange format, an ISOBUS standard that is accepted by many software applications. The data link between the office and the machine is provided by the Internet, with data files being transmitted from the terminal on the machine to the iGreenBox at the office. This box is the node that stores all farming data and provides a shared pool of information for all operators, which they use as they swap machines without ever duplicating any information. Ultimately, contractors will use the iGreenBox data for invoicing. In addition, the system offers manufacturers the wealth of information to tap into for any type of application. All data collected on a specific job will be available for later use, for example, to program the fertilizer spreader in spring with yield data collected by the harvester in the previous season.

BiG Pack
iGreen for Big Pack manifests into ‘iPack’, a system that allows you to feed jobs to the machine to utilize it to full potential. At the same time the system records all baling data in ISOXML format for later use. iPack is a comprehensive harvest process management system which integrates all baling stages from the job order down to the tagged square bale, including navigation to the site and yield and bale mapping. This way, every single bale is logged to the system, together with information on the date of baling, bale position in the field, weight, bale moisture, etc.

Integral bale weighing system
Our Big Pack balers are available with bale chutes that are specified with four integral weighing cells. These cells measure the bale weight down to an accuracy of 2%. iGreen will then store the weight of each bale and, if the tractor is equipped with a GPS receiver, it will map the exact GPS position of the bale. At the end of the job, the operator can retrieve a detailed map, which shows the exact location of each individual bale in the field – a complete and accurate field log, which forms the perfect basis for accurate billing. The map shows the number of bales and the bale weights that need to be collected from individual fields. Have these bale maps verified at the office and dispatchers will be able to set up effective haulage and bale handling chains.

Integral bale moisture sensing system
Our BiG Pack baler is equipped with a resistive bale moisture metering system, which allows operators to find out whether the crop is too wet for baling and determine the dry matter content of the material. Each bale is assigned a moisture level, which is related to the measured weight. The system uses these two parameters to automatically determine the dry matter content. These figures are used to prepare the yield map.

Integral Bale Tagger
The Bale Tagger system tags each square bale with a sticker bearing an RFID chip (radio-frequency identification). This chip stores all bale data (bale weight, moisture level, GPS position, time, date, field name, bale ID, silage additive yes/no). This way, operators can log any type of bale information and every single bale can be traced back to its origin. Full traceability is much appreciated by dealers and distributors while the RFID chip helps farmers optimise their storage system, because it qualifies each individual bale by its moisture level, awarding a B status to those with moisture levels of more than 15%. So you can separate these B bales from the high-quality bales.
 
Forage chain
Integral harvest chain management
The harvest chain management system traces every machine that operates in the chain on the screen and displays its ID number on the terminal screen. Each machine in the chain has a CCI terminal, a GPS receiver and a GSM modem and its GPS position is updated every 10 seconds. If several harvest chains are serving several foragers, the individual haulage trucks and tractors will be assigned a specific colour to match a specific forager. The forager is given a job list, which contains all customer data, including all fields to be harvested. The forager operator views the fields to be harvested on the map, so he can travel to the sites without requiring guidance from somebody else. The tractor operators serving the forager view their own machine, the other vehicles and the forager on their display screens. As they arrive at the field, all systems automatically compare the GPS data currently received with the customer data and number to verify they are about to harvest the right field. As harvesting commences, the system starts recording all machine data (yield, moisture, fuel consumption, chop length, hours worked, etc.) and as the job is completed, the data are transmitted to the dispatching office via GSM modem or USB drive (depending on level of specification). The invoice is then prepared on the basis of these detailed data.
It is possible to use a true field navigation system on the forager just like on the BiG Pack and it is also possible now for operators on haulage tractors and trucks to use smart phones to navigate behind the forager.

Integral yield metering system
CropControl – yield metering on the forager. The system records automatically the speed and position of the forager’s pre-compression rollers and uses this information to compute the crop flow. This result represents the throughput. The mass flow is determined by the integral moisture sensing system.

Integral moisture sensing system
The new and integral moisture sensor uses Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIR) to determine the crop moisture level as harvesting is going on. The system is accurate down to 2%. The moisture data are automatically recorded, stored and assigned to the current job.
 
Forage wagons
Integral weighing system on the forage wagon
Krone is the first manufacturer to offer a weighing system on forage wagons. Introduced in 2009, the system delivers an accuracy of 2.5% of the machine weight (even on the move). The machine weight is constantly recorded throughout the loading process and after unloading is completed. These measurements are then compared with the dead weight. All measurements are assigned to the current job and, provided the tractor has a GPS receiver, the system also relates the yield data to the positioning data. It also records and evaluates road and field miles. Again, these data are communicated via GSM modem or USB drive.

Automatic EasyTrack steering on BiG X and BiG M
The high-capacity mower conditioner Big M is now available with the optional EasyTrack system, an autoguidance system, which sets up a reference line as the operator steers manually down the first track. Once, this is completed, the GPS system computes the subsequent parallel lines within seconds. From then on Big M will follow these lines fully automatically and throughout the entire mowing job and without the operator ever interfering with the steering.
The new system offers the advantage of eliminating any overlaps and optimises Big M’s workrate. In addition, EasyTrack noticeably minimises driver fatigue. The operator can now focus on handling the machine and its settings and its quality of cut. EasyTrack is an ISOBUS steering system, which means it is compatible with many other established steering systems (including Trimble, TopCon, Reichhardt, Autofarm). It is easy to mount it on the tractor, taking usually less than 30 minutes. Buyers can choose their preferred correction signals and appropriate accuracy levels.


SectionControl for mowers and rakes
SectionControl is an automatic system for mowers and rakes, which is operated from the tractor’s ISOBUS terminal. Using GPS positioning data and field structure data, SectionControl lifts and lowers the relevant machine units on the headland after activation. This unique system is a world’s first and is currently available on the Krone EasyCut B 1000 CV triple mower and the Swadro 2000 6-rotor rake.