如今，精準農(nóng)業(yè)與機器自動化技術(shù)已經(jīng)開始在農(nóng)業(yè)生產(chǎn)中發(fā)揮重要作用。CNH工業(yè)（CNH Industrial）的創(chuàng)新集團注意到，在每年的農(nóng)忙季節(jié)，農(nóng)民仍需要在田間進行長時間勞作，特別是在收種玉米的時期。為了應(yīng)對這一挑戰(zhàn)，CNH創(chuàng)新集團已經(jīng)通過與猶他州的ASI公司（自動解決方案公司）合作，成功研發(fā)了一種概念性的自動技術(shù)。目前，集團正在通過Case IH Magnum和New Holland T8大馬力拖拉機進行自動技術(shù)演示。
“如今，多家公司和產(chǎn)品平臺已經(jīng)推出了一系列拖拉機自動駕駛技術(shù)，正是在這些系統(tǒng)的基礎(chǔ)上，我們才能推出這個非常成功的自動設(shè)備概念設(shè)計。”CNH工業(yè)集團的農(nóng)業(yè)設(shè)備創(chuàng)新技術(shù)部主管John Posselius表示，“只要簡單地為拖拉機裝備ISOBUS Class 3功能，我們就可以與液壓、液壓遙控、三點懸掛、動力輸出、轉(zhuǎn)向、變速器和發(fā)動機控制等系統(tǒng)進行有線通信。”
這款概念拖拉機有兩個截然不同的配置：一款為沒有配備駕駛艙的Case IH Magnum；一款是保留駕駛艙的New Holland T8 NHDrive。這兩款配置均采用了傳統(tǒng)發(fā)動機、變速箱、底盤和執(zhí)行聯(lián)軸的設(shè)計。
公司還開發(fā)了一款全互動接口，實現(xiàn)拖拉機控制。該接口共有三個界面，分別為：路徑繪制界面，可顯示拖拉機的工作進展；實時攝像頭界面（最高可支持四個視角，包括二前二后）；監(jiān)控界面，可顯示/修改發(fā)動機轉(zhuǎn)速等關(guān)鍵設(shè)備參數(shù)。
一旦路徑繪制完成后，用戶就可通過預(yù)先編程的菜單選擇任務(wù)、選定設(shè)備、劃分工作區(qū)域，然后設(shè)備就可以出發(fā)執(zhí)行任務(wù)了，這一系列操作大約需要30秒。
總的來說，這兩款概念拖拉機均采用了完整的傳感器套裝，包括雷達、激光雷達和視頻攝像機等，可實時監(jiān)測拖拉機工作線路上的障礙物，保證工作順利進行。一旦在行進線路上監(jiān)測到障礙物，系統(tǒng)可以向設(shè)備控制接口（平板或筆記本）發(fā)送視覺和聲音警告，并提供一系列建議選項——等待駕駛員操作；手動或自動操作繞過障礙物；或直接碾過障礙物（如果沒有危險隱患）。
“傳感是真正的挑戰(zhàn)，”Posselius表示，“我們的概念設(shè)備已經(jīng)整合了一些很不錯的系統(tǒng)，表現(xiàn)良好。但進一步優(yōu)化的重點將集中在傳感系統(tǒng)，我們的傳感系統(tǒng)必須變得更加智能。”
此外，系統(tǒng)還會通知燃料不足或種子不足等情況，只要出現(xiàn)任何關(guān)鍵設(shè)備報警或關(guān)鍵設(shè)備控制受損，拖拉機均會停止自動運行；此外，操作員也可通過控制接口上的“停止”按鈕手動停止設(shè)備運行。
另外，如果出現(xiàn)暴雨天氣即將來臨等情況，操作員還可以實時修改設(shè)備任務(wù)。CNH集團表示，未來，這些概念拖拉機還可以利用實時氣象衛(wèi)星信息等大數(shù)據(jù)來源，根據(jù)實際情況自行制定最理想的工作計劃，整個過程無需駕駛員參與。例如，當設(shè)備預(yù)判未來天氣將影響其運行時，就會自動停止運轉(zhuǎn)，而后在情況好轉(zhuǎn)時重新啟動，也可將設(shè)備調(diào)配至其他條件適宜的田地繼續(xù)工作。
最后，公司還可以將概念拖拉機的平板電腦接口安裝在其他設(shè)備的駕駛艙內(nèi)，方便操作員進行實時監(jiān)控。舉例而言，操作員坐在一臺聯(lián)合收割機或拖拉機的駕駛艙內(nèi)，就可以監(jiān)控在同一塊田地或鄰近田地自動拖拉機/播種機工作進展，并在有需要時進行調(diào)整。這樣一來，自動駕駛拖拉機則可以“無縫融入”現(xiàn)有的農(nóng)業(yè)機械車隊，并不會給車隊的原有操作帶來太大影響。
根據(jù)CNH表示，未來，公司將繼續(xù)開展自動技術(shù)研發(fā)，將其應(yīng)用拓展至所有農(nóng)用設(shè)備產(chǎn)品線中，包括各類拖拉機、收割機及噴霧機等支持性設(shè)備。
作為一家多元化的公司，CNH的業(yè)務(wù)范圍主要涵蓋三個領(lǐng)域：商用車、農(nóng)業(yè)機械及建筑機械?？梢韵胂?，這家公司完全可以在不同領(lǐng)域進行技術(shù)的轉(zhuǎn)移，難度并不會很大。目前，CNH的建筑機械部已經(jīng)開始在一些小型設(shè)備中應(yīng)用自動化技術(shù)，目前仍處于早期階段。
“無論哪個領(lǐng)域取得發(fā)展，我們都很容易對其進行調(diào)整并應(yīng)用至其他領(lǐng)域。”一位公司發(fā)言人表示，“卡車領(lǐng)域已經(jīng)出現(xiàn)了列隊行駛等自動駕駛技術(shù)，我們則可以像挑櫻桃一樣從中選擇最適合我們的經(jīng)驗設(shè)計，然后將其應(yīng)用至農(nóng)業(yè)和建筑機械領(lǐng)域，而不會閉門造車。”
目前，CNH公司已經(jīng)開始與一些美國客戶合作，計劃在美國部分工況與環(huán)境變化較多的農(nóng)場進行初步的試點項目。按照計劃，該試點項目將于明年開始，向公司展示這些產(chǎn)品在現(xiàn)實環(huán)境中的真實工作表現(xiàn)以及在困難條件下可能出現(xiàn)的問題。
“到目前為止，研發(fā)工作是嚴格控制在設(shè)計部門，特別是在創(chuàng)新集團中進行，但我們有擴大其范圍的計劃。”Posselius表示，“當我們在與客戶合作時，我們是想看看他們的真實使用環(huán)境，是否還有我們還沒意識到的具體需求？如果不緊密聯(lián)系客戶，這些問題單憑我們是無法完成的。”
Precision farming and machine automation already play a significant role in agriculture. CNH Industrial’s Innovation Group is focusing on key times of the year when farm work still requires long days in the field, particularly when harvesting a crop or planting the next one. Working with Utah-based technology provider Autonomous Solutions Inc. (ASI), the Innovation Group developed concept autonomous technology to meet this challenge and demonstrated it via tractor concepts based on the existing Case IH Magnum and New Holland T8 high-horsepower conventional tractors.
“There have a been a number of groups and product platforms that have been involved with automation of some of the tractor onboard systems, and those are all enablers that allowed us to put together a very successful autonomous concept vehicle program,” John Posselius, CNH Industrial Head of Agricultural Innovation Technology, told Truck & Off-Highway Engineering. “Things as simple as having ISOBUS Class 3 capabilities on our tractor allows us to communicate by wire to all of the important functions on the tractor such as the hydraulics, the hydraulic remote, the three-point hitch, PTO, steering, transmission and engine control.”
The concept tractors are configured as two distinct versions: the cab-less Case IH Magnum and the New Holland T8 NHDrive concept that maintains its cab for operating flexibility. Both use a conventional engine, transmission, chassis and implement couplings.
A fully interactive interface has been developed to control the tractors. Three operating screens include a path-plotting screen that shows the tractor’s progress, one that shows live camera feeds with up to four views (two front, two rear), and a screen that enables monitoring and modification of key machine and implement parameters such as engine speed and implement settings.
Once path plotting has finished, the user can choose a job from a pre-programmed menu by selecting the vehicle, choosing the field and then setting the tractor out on its task. The sequence takes about 30 seconds.
The two tractors have a complete sensing and perception package in common, which includes radar, Lidar and video cameras to ensure obstacles in the tractor’s path or that of the implement are detected and avoided. If an object is detected in the tractor’s path, visual and audio warnings appear on the control interface—either tablet interface or desktop—which offers a choice of how the tractor should respond: by waiting for human intervention, driving around the obstacle using either a manually or automatically plotted path, or driving onwards if the object is not a danger.
“The fencing and perception is a real challenge,” said Posselius. “We’ve built in some nice systems in our concept vehicles and they do what we need right now. But one of the real challenges to truly move forward is our sensing and perception has to get much smarter.”
When operating parameters become critical, as in the case of low fuel or seed levels, the same notifying system is employed. Any critical machine alarms or loss of critical machine control functions cause the autonomous vehicle to stop automatically, or a stop button on the control interface can be activated manually.
Machine tasks can be modified in real time, such as if a storm is approaching. In the future, these concept tractors will be able to use “Big Data” such as real-time weather satellite information to automatically make best use of ideal conditions, independent of human input, regardless of the time of day, the company claims. For example, the tractor would stop automatically should it become apparent weather would cause a problem, then recommence work when conditions have sufficiently improved; or they could be sent to another field altogether where conditions are better.
The tablet interface also can be mounted in another machine whose operator can supervise its activities. As an example, from the seat of a combine or tractor, the operator can monitor the progress and eventually modify the performance of an autonomous tractor/planter combination working in the same or neighboring field. This allows autonomous tractors to “seamlessly integrate” into an existing farm machinery fleet, with minimal operational changes.
According to CNH, the autonomous technologies have been designed so that, in the future, they could be further developed to enable their application across the full range of equipment in a farmer’s fleet. This could encompass the full range of tractors, harvesting equipment and support vehicles, such as sprayers.
Being a diverse company with operations in three segments—Commercial Vehicle, Agricultural and Construction Machinery—transfer of technology from one application to another is not only possible but an actuality. CNH’s construction business is in the early stages of applying autonomous technology to some of its smaller equipment.
“What we develop in one sphere we can very easily adapt and apply in the others,” a spokeswoman told TOHE. “You’ve got truck platooning [by Iveco] and all the technology behind that, which we can sort of cherry-pick what we can from the experience there and then apply it to the Ag sphere and Construction business. We’re not operating in silos.”
With the autonomous tractors, the company is already working with some customers in the U.S. to set up an initial pilot program over a small group of farms with diverse operating conditions and environments. The program, which is expected to start next year, will help to determine how these products work in the real world and where some of the snags might be when operating in different conditions.
“So far, work has been strictly under the engineering organizations, specifically the Innovation Group, but we are broadening that,” said Posselius. “As we work with our customers, what we’re trying to see is how they would use something like this if it was a production piece of equipment. What specific needs do they have that we may not have foreseen yet? A lot of that work will not be done by our other organizations that deal closer with our customers.”
Author: Ryan Gehm
Source: SAE Truck & Off-highway Engineering Magazine
Case IH Magnum自動概念拖拉機在田間工作的場景，此時這款概念拖拉機掛載了一款EarlyRiser 2150播種機。整個拖拉機采用了碳纖維前擋板、標志性LED運行狀態(tài)燈，更重要的并沒有保留駕駛艙的設(shè)計，因此看起來未來感十足。
未來，CNH集團的概念拖拉機將利用實時氣象衛(wèi)星信息等大數(shù)據(jù)來源，根據(jù)實際情況自動制定最理想的工作計劃。圖為一輛裝載了2085空盤播種機的New Holland T8 NHdrive自動駕駛概念拖拉機正在工作。