Sensors and sensor systems for mobile outdoor automation are the focus of SICK’s trade fair appearance at Agritechnica 2023 in Hanover. At stand G33 in Hall 15, the company will present its expertise as a system solution provider for mobile agricultural machinery. An exhibit with more than 20 sensor, control and data transmission solutions demonstrates the diverse possible uses: object and position detection, reliable environment perception and digital communication.
“Green Productivity – inspiration and solutions” is the main theme of Agritechnica 2023 – the world’s leading trade fair for the global agricultural technology industry. In addition to the increasing digitalization in agricultural technology – keyword Farming 4.0 – this year the event attaches particular importance to the idea of sustainable automation in agricultural technology.
SICK as a competent partner to the agricultural machinery industry
The basis for the use of sensors and sensor-based system solutions for the application-specific automation of mobile agricultural machinery is a sustainable “solution approach”. This is an application-related solution approach that covers all the requirements of a task and, with SICK, enables a holistic and future-proof solution. The focus of many application solutions is the perception of the surroundings by mobile agricultural machines – be it for collision avoidance and navigation or for identifying objects. At the same time, sensors and sensor systems for mobile outdoor automation are now important data suppliers for efficient processes in agriculture.
Environmental perception for the efficient use of automated agricultural machinery
Perceiving the environment is one of the most important skills that agricultural machines must master in order to be able to operate automatically. People, vehicles, buildings, buildings, plants or field devices in the operating environment must be reliably recognized for accurate navigation and collision-free work. In other cases, the perception of the surroundings is used to recognize and differentiate between objects such as crops and weeds or to solve other agricultural tasks.
With the MultiScan165, SICK is presenting the new long-range version of the sensor family for 3D environmental perception at Agritechnica. The robust, outdoor-suitable sensor with protection class IP69K offers a range of up to 60 meters as well as reliable object detection even in the most difficult visibility conditions such as rain or fog – and therefore maximum availability in outdoor operation. The MultiScan165 is used in collision avoidance, automation and hybrid systems for mobile agricultural machinery.
The Visionary-B Two snapshot camera sensor enables reliable 3D environmental perception. Its robust and innovative stereo camera concept with protection class IP69k was developed specifically for agricultural applications that rely on green productivity. Its high-precision 3D depth data and 2D color image are optimized for outdoor use. In addition, environments can be streamed via the GigE Vision image processing standard. The Visionary-B Two enables a high degree of flexibility and the execution of applications directly on the camera sensor. This allows demanding tasks to be implemented without additional computing hardware and reduces the complexity and costs of the entire system.
For the 2D detection and localization of objects in agricultural environments, SICK has developed the 2D LiDAR sensors of the picoScan100 product family, which defines a new market standard for sensors of this type in terms of range, resolution, scanning frequency and measurement data quality. The first device in the series – the picoScan150 – not only impresses with its high precision and dynamics, but also with its high robustness against external light and direct sunlight. In addition, the intelligent signal evaluation ensures high availability in outdoor use, for example in rain, snow or dust. The new picoScan150 with 276° optics – for seamless 360° measuring fields when two devices are mounted diagonally – is available in three performance levels: “Core” for close-range applications,
Tilt detection for mobile agricultural machines
With the TMS/TMM22 BASIC, SICK is expanding the product family of sensors for precise one- and two-dimensional inclination measurement on mobile machines. The wear-free functional principle and protection classes up to IP69K ensure maximum availability and longevity in the harsh operating environment of agricultural machinery technology. Measuring ranges of up to 360° (1-axis) or up to ± 90° (2-axis) as well as the programmable current/voltage output offer maximum flexibility for a variety of applications. This includes the leveling of vehicles and chassis as well as attachments for tillage and harvesting, the alignment of field sprayer booms for cultivating crops, the inclination detection of booms on vehicles and trailers and the detection of loading area positions on tipper trucks.
Cable encoder: new product family for position measurement on agricultural machinery
SICK places the new, price-performance-optimized VarioLine cable encoders between the proven EcoLine and HighLine product families. They combine high robustness and industry-standard interface flexibility in a space-saving and integration-friendly housing. The VarioLine cable encoders are also “ready for farming 4.0”: they offer a wide range of diagnostic options and intelligent sensor functions that are available via Smart Tasks and ensure long, trouble-free downtimes “in the field”. The robust cable encoders with their measuring range of up to three meters are used, for example, to measure the position of moving components of agricultural machinery as well as attachments of agricultural machinery such as booms, excavators, work platforms, bale forks or even rear containers.