News 2009

Innovations from CLAAS receive top awards at the Agritechnica 2009 trade fair. With two gold medals and one silver medal, CLAAS leads the German agricultural engineering industry.

A gold medal for….

CEMOS –A system for improving crop yield 

CEMOS is the name of a machine optimisation system. It improves the machine utilisation of the combine harvester, thus increasing throughput and surface output. CLAAS was awarded the gold medal of the German Agricultural Society (DLG) for the system.

The intelligent CEMOS (CLAAS Electronic Machine Optimisation System) is a setting assistance system for combine harvesters which guides the machine operator to the optimal machine setting step-by-step with the use of a colour control terminal (CEBIS MOBILE). In principle, the operator asks the CEMOS control terminal questions during operation: "Are all of my machine settings correct? Are there any areas for improvement?"

With unpractised operators, the system increases the surface output by up to 20 % with the same harvest quality. Taking all operators and different crop conditions into account, the system improves output by around 5 % on average. 

The CEMOS comprehensively monitors the grain crop and the entire combine harvester and evaluates a total of 50 configuration parameters, which have an effect on eleven evaluation criteria in the combine harvesting process. 

This means that the machine can always be operated at the correct utilisation level. Grain throughput is optimised and the performance of the combine harvester is improved. This increases the economic efficiency of the harvesting operation and improves grain quality. In addition, the system noticeably relieves the stress on the driver during harvesting.

A gold medal for….                                                     

CLAAS AUTO FILL –Filling monitored by camera

With the CLAAS AUTO FILL system for the JAGUAR 900 forage harvester family, fully automated wagon filling has become possible for the first time – thanks to camera monitoring. This new system was awarded a gold medal by the jurors of the DLG. It has a significant influence on working quality, efficiency and work safety during forage harvesting. 

The camera-based system reduces the stress on the operator of the forage harvester and on the operator of the vehicle driving alongside. In addition, optimal filling of the loader wagon results in a much more cost-efficient harvesting process. 

A camera on the discharge spout of the JAGUAR monitors the fill level and the distribution of the forage in the loader wagon during operation. The system is based on the principle of digital 3D image analysis. 

By evaluating camera images from the loader wagon driving alongside, the system is able to determine both the outside edges and the fill level at every point of the wagon. In addition, the system is able to detect the point of impact of the chopped material on the wagon. This allows the discharge spout to be controlled longitudinally and laterally relative to the vehicle axis so that the filling process always runs optimally. 

The system can be activated conveniently from within the cab via the multifunction control lever. A complex lighting system and a high-quality camera ensure that the AUTO FILL system operates properly even at dawn or dusk, in the dark or in dusty conditions. The operator can adjust the safety clearance from the outside edges of the wagon in order to take changes in working conditions into account, such as heavy side winds.

The system also performs reliably with wagons of differing size because the system specifically evaluates both the outside edges of the wagon and the depth of the wagon. The entire harvesting process can be displayed to both the forage harvester operator and the driver of the loader wagon by means of a camera image in the cab.

A silver medal for…. 

An intelligent pesticide database 

CLAAS was awarded a DLG silver medal for the development of an intelligent pesticide database with integrated active suggestion system based on data from the AGRO-NET crop production software. 

Pesticides are a highly sensitive issue. Strict conditions, detailed regulations and painstaking product research are an unavoidable burden for farmers because, with over 1000 approved pesticides, they must be selected with great care. 

The new system reliably and effectively helps the farmer to choose the correct pesticide. The user simply enters the field and indication and the automatic procedure then selects all of the optimal pesticides and the most cost-efficient solution using data taken directly from AGRO-NET. 

The integration of the intelligent pesticide database in AGRO-NET assists users effectively with their pesticide use and in complying with all of the regulations. The wide-ranging expertise of ProPlant GmbH has also been utilised: a newly designed database from the company lists all of the pesticides which have been approved by the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL). 

To ensure perfect results and compliance with all regulations, the software also takes the location, all previous measures implemented and possible waiting times into account.

The farmer does not have to spend time painstakingly re-entering data. He or she simply selects the field and indication and can rely on the results output by the system with complete confidence.