Argo Tractors receives another Technical Innovation Award, the prestigious accolade linked to Eima International, which will be held from 6 to 10 November in Bologna, Italy. After the successes enjoyed in the past by the Landini brand in the fields of hybrid and electric technology, McCormick – the other brand of the industrial group from Fabbrico (Reggio Emilia, Italy) – has earned the top spot this year.
Argo Tractors’ R&D department developed the award-winning solution, Hyper Safety View: an advanced collision warning system designed to improve tractor safety. Combining computer vision, artificial intelligence and a robust hardware architecture, this system is capable of detecting the presence of people and preventing collisions through audio-visual alerts.
In addition to the prestigious award, which was received on 3 October 2024, Landini’s REX4 Energy – an under-bonnet system that generates and supplies 48 volts of electricity to electric implements connected to the rear or ventral side of the tractor – also earned an honourable “Mention”.
“This is the fourth consecutive Eima International Technical Innovation Award that our group has been honoured with”, commented Antonio Salvaterra, Marketing Director of Argo Tractors, “and it is a source of pride for all those involved in the research, design, development, and communication stages of these increasingly cutting-edge products and solutions. McCormick Hyper Safety View places the utmost emphasis on the safety of the operator, and anyone else within the tractor’s field of vision. Human factors have always been at the heart of our work, in terms of both comfort and safety. We are very pleased that the committee of experts recognised and rewarded the spirit of this proposal and its practical implementation.”
McCormick Hyper Safety View technology consists of a central processing unit featuring specific software, four cameras for a 360° view (including three on the roof and one on the front of the bonnet), and an Ethernet connection to the tractor’s DSM Plus monitor for displaying information. As soon as the Hyper-Safety-View function is selected on the main monitor in the cab (Data Screen Manager), a menu of five operations appears. These include Polar View (radar view to identify the distance to obstacles), Surround (a unified image generated by multiple cameras providing a 360° view around the tractor), AR (reconstruction of the vehicle’s trajectory superimposed on the real image), Cameras (view of the 4 cameras enhanced by zoom), and ADAS (support for connecting implements to the tractor).
Using this system, which is based on AI and augmented reality technologies, it is possible to activate a computerised view of the area around the tractor, thus avoiding impacts with people and obstacles through audible warnings and display alerts. In addition, it allows operators to view blind spots and, last but not least, to work with a full view of the area in front of them, ensuring greater safety for any individuals present in the area.
The system also facilitates the docking of implements, both front and rear, directly from the driver’s seat via an augmented reality-based ADAS system and simultaneous display on the on-board monitor.
REX4 Energy
Hyper Safety View is a concept installed on the 240 HP McCormick X7.624 VT-Drive, designed to connect to the new infotainment system in the Clever Cab, and also integrates seamlessly with the tractor’s control networks.
The jury for the Technical Innovation Award also gave an honourable “Mention” to Landini REX4 Energy, which represents the reaffirmation and evolution of the company’s ongoing commitment to electrification. REX4 Energy is capable of supplying power to the implements without modifying the standard body and option packages of the current product line. This is all thanks to the PMS (Power Management System), developed in-house, which allows for power to be supplied via an electric generator at lower engine RPMs rather than through the hydraulics and/or PTO. The system supplies 48 V, but is also capable of handling higher voltages. Sufficient energy can be provided for row care, foliage management, and spraying operations, with no reduction in the tractor payload and no limitation in the availability of options. All this is achieved in a manner that respects the environment and operator comfort through reduced noise and CO₂ emissions.