Case IH Magnum 400 AFS Connect tractor test drive

With a new project for total connectivity, the Magnum 400 AFS Connect tested by our team gained a new cabin, new electronics, with an AFS Pro 1200 monitor, interface and new 4G telemetry modules, which enable information sharing and total remote access

Agropecuária Jerusalem, in the city of Água Boa, in the state of Mato Grosso, could not be a better destination for the Revista Cultivar Máquinas team to learn about and test the Case IH tractor, model Magnum 400 AFS Connect. Água Boa is a city in the eastern region of Mato Grosso, particularly in the Araguaia Valley, very close to Serra do Roncador, with beautiful landscapes. From this friendly city, with approximately 25 thousand inhabitants, we moved to Agropecuária Jerusalem, which is a Connected Farm and serves as Case IH's pioneering project for establishing 100% connectivity, the brand's Digital Agriculture proposal.

In this text, we will tell you details about the brand's new Magnum 400 AFS Connect model, launched in 2021, and how it fits into this Digital Agriculture proposal. Agriculture 4.0 or Digital Agriculture is an analogy to the term Industry 4.0, which has to do with the integration of agricultural activities into the intelligent, networked world. It comprises and encompasses several fields of knowledge, including Artificial Intelligence and all recent electronics and global positioning technologies. Therefore, all actions involving placing sensors and controllers on agricultural machines and interconnecting them with information technologies are compatible with this concept. Today, for example, we already have some application resources for the Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data and basic stages of Artificial Intelligence available on machines. Much of this technology is embedded in the Magnum 400 AFS Connect tractor, which we will describe to our readers. In addition to the Magnum, Case IH offers the Farmall and Farmall A, Puma, Steiger and Quadtrac series to the Brazilian market. Within the Magnum series, models 260, 290, 315, 340, 380 and 400 are offered.

THE MAGNUM TRACTOR

The Case IH tractor tested by our team, model Magnum 400 AFS Connect, uses a six-cylinder FPT engine, with 8.700cm³ of displacement, equipped with a turbocharger, which provides 396hp of nominal power and 435hp of maximum power. The maximum torque of this engine is 1.850Nm at 1.400rpm. With all this performance, which characterizes it as a large tractor, it uses the SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) system to control emissions, meeting both the Tier 3 standard and the Brazilian Proconve MAR-1 standard.

The Magnum 400 and Magnum 380 are the newest members of the AFS Connect family, which are equipped with the brand's best technology. The external look of the series has been renewed, reminiscent of the Case IH autonomous tractor. Also, as a novelty, they have new electronics, especially due to the new AFS Pro 1200 monitor, the interface and the new 4G telemetry modules, which highlight them as the highest technology products possible, which justifies the proposal for total connectivity.

As for the driving position, a new cabin with active suspension was incorporated, with plenty of space for the operator and an auxiliary seat that is generally used for instruction and presentation of the system. External lighting is provided by 12 LED headlights, six at the front and six at the rear, ensuring powerful lighting that covers 360 degrees. Another point that caught our attention is the number of places to place personal objects and accessories. Inside the cabin there is a high-quality seat and two monitors, one that provides information about the tractor and the other about the operation, which provides connectivity, adopting the Isobus standard. This second, the AFS Pro 1200 monitor, uses an Android-based system, fully configurable, with a 12-inch screen, anti-reflection and automatic brightness adjustment.

In this way, after all data from the machine's sensors and the need for repairs and maintenance have been presented, the information can be interpreted by the operator and, if necessary, can be recorded, using the USB output or transferred in real time, through the new portal of Case IH telemetry, AFS Connect. This interface, from what we could feel, is very intuitive and easy to understand.

As expected in a top model like this, the Magnum 400 AFS Connect comes equipped with the new AFS Guide autopilot, with the new AFS VectorPro signal receiving antenna, with terrain compensation. The RTK and RTX GPS location system can come in three options: the free autonomous AFS, with 30cm accuracy; optional signature options, which vary in accuracy between 3cm and 15cm; and optional radio RTK, which requires a base and works with an accuracy of less than 2,5 cm. To aid in maneuvering and viewing coupled equipment, the manufacturer placed a standard rear camera on the 380 and 400 models, which is optional on lower power models.

The side console at the front features a multifunctional control lever (joystick), where the configurable switches are placed. On the right side column of the cabin, in front of the console, a monitor is placed, similar to a tablet on the right side column. It has all the instant warnings, such as gear and working speed, engine angular speed, fuel level, coolant temperature and oil pressure, as well as luminous pictograms, with information about the tractor's operation.

Power transmission from the engine to the wheels is full powershift with 21 forward and five reverse gears, with gears and groups changing automatically, through five disc packages, without the use of a clutch. You can choose between Field Mode and Road Mode. Using APM (Automatic Productivity Management), in Field Mode, for example, the operator can set the target working speed and the system changes gear automatically, depending on the load, to maintain the engine at the chosen speed and rotation. . With this system, fuel consumption can be reduced.

As for the hydraulic system, the Magnum 400 AFS Connect is equipped with five electro-hydraulic electronic VCRs, a hydraulic pump with a flow rate of 279 liters per minute, and the Power Beyond system, which allows extra power for the hydraulic system. The customer can opt for the category IV three-point lifting system, as an option, with a lifting capacity of 9.025kgf. A 1.000rpm rear power take-off is standard on all models.

For the two new models, the Magnum 380 and the Magnum 400, the manufacturer informs that it offers a front axle with suspension as standard, a new and reinforced rear axle and new tire options as standard. This item is also optional for the smaller models in the series. The new tire configuration is available in two versions: sugarcane and grain. For sugarcane, the specification is 710/60R30 on the front axle and 900/60R38 for the rear axles, both radials. As for grains, the specification changes to 480/70 R34 front tires and 800/70R38 rear tires, both double.

As the main market for this tractor is large sugarcane and grain properties, the Magnum 400 AFS Connect was prepared for the characteristics of the Brazilian Center-West, with the possibility of remote fault diagnosis and remote support. All Case IH dealerships have the new remote support tool, the Remote Service Tool, which is a real-time, online maintenance support tool to diagnose any problem that may occur with the tractor and, if necessary, physical maintenance intervention, the mechanics at the nearest dealership will be prepared for the service they will need to carry out.

From now on, with the launch of the new Magnum AFS Connect tractors, customers can access telemetry based on 4G cell phones, as it is a technology already standard on new tractors. When purchasing the product, be it a tractor or harvester, the customer receives a telephone signal subscription for connectivity for three years and can then access the control portal and manage their fleet, together with the dealer, if they prefer. But also outside the portal, the customer can download the AFS Connect app from the App Store (for any mobile device) on their cell phone or tablet, for iOS and Android platforms, and can receive instant information from their machine.

TEST

After learning about the technical characteristics of the tractor and the proposal to fully connect the machines with the system provided by Case IH, we were very interested in taking a test drive, both of the tractor and its connectivity. To do so, we got on the tractor to monitor the corn sowing operation in the second harvest, for seed production. The mechanized set consisted of the Magnum 400 AFS Connect tractor and Case IH seeder, model Easy Riser 3200, 24 rows, with double disc furrower.

The seeder was calibrated to distribute, on average, 25 seeds per meter, with a row spacing of 45cm, the same used for soybeans, which had been sown in October and were being harvested. The aim was to obtain a population of 55 to 60 thousand plants per hectare, with a variable seed rate, which depends on a different agronomic prescription, which, in turn, depends on the fertility, characteristics and physical condition of the soil. They reported it to us and we were able to see that, in certain points, there was an outcrop of gravel, which was taken into account when preparing the prescription maps. Visible on the harvest maps made by the farm, these outcrops caused a variation in productivity.

The sowing operation was carried out using automatic pilot, following the sowing lines of the previous crop, to take advantage of the base fertilization, already made in the soybean line. The route corresponded to the longest length of the plot and was considered a virtual border, which would be sown later, with one pass of the seeder around the entire perimeter of the area. Although there are cases in which the border is done first, on the farm there is a virtual marking of this route, which becomes a space for maneuvers and is only carried out at the end. The benefit of this is that the maneuvers are not carried out on what has already been sown.

With the help of machine operator Cleomar Rodrigues de Souza, Pirelli, who has been working on the farm for two and a half years, we followed the work of the Magnum 400 AFS Connect tractor, at an engine speed of 1.840rpm, in seventh gear, which resulted in an average working speed of 6,4km/h. In previous years, tests were carried out with variations in working speed and this provided the highest productivity. At the time of the test, on the farm, there was a succession of agricultural operations with the harvesting of soybeans, then the distribution of fertilizer by broadcast and, finally, the sowing of corn.

We were able to see on the Pro 1200 AFS monitor that, under the conditions we were operating in, we could reach an operational capacity of 70 hectares per day, or 7,1 hectares per hour. Average fuel consumption was 29 liters per hour, average wheel slip was around 4% and we were only using 40% of the engine's power.

Although we were focused on work, the autopilot action and easy-to-view monitor allowed us to see performance information as well as machine parameters through the monitor on the cab column. At a certain point, we noticed a warning on the monitor screen requesting access to the operation information. Access was granted when verifying that the request came from the farm's technical team's tablet.

We had a very good impression of the interior space and visibility of the cabin, as well as the level of comfort of the seat and the position of the controls and monitors. They were with us throughout the test, explaining the technical characteristics of the tractor and the available connectivity resources, the agronomist Carlos Furlan, responsible for commercial marketing at Case IH, and Henrique Bohnen, who is a lawyer with a degree in Agribusiness, who represents the sector commercial in Mato Grosso for Case IH.

CONNECTED FARM

Agropecuária Jerusalem was chosen by Case IH to be a model in Brazil and a pioneering project for the integral connection of the connectivity system adopted by the brand. One of the criteria for the choice was based on the fact that there is a link between the farm and the concessionaire, which are from the same business group, owned by Mr. Gerson Luis Garbuio, a gaucho from the city of Passo Fundo (RS). The Case IH project, called Fazenda Conectada, has a partnership with several companies, which joined the project, including: manufacturers, consultancy and technology, telephony, public bodies and startups.

The general idea of ​​the project is to show the real benefits that rural producers can have with Digital Agriculture, based on the pillars of productivity, sustainability and economic viability. In this first phase of the project, the aim is to ensure that the current standards of the structure allow full use of connectivity. In the learning curve, which, at first, is very large in terms of new information, the implementation phase takes place, truly establishing what a connected farm is, providing the use of information technologies.

Agronomist Felipe Zmijevski, technical manager of the farm, highlights that the purpose is to “see what is invisible”, that is, to know things that are not apparent through traditional technical management methods. The farm, typical of the Brazilian Center-West, has 4.370 hectares of soybeans, 1.186 hectares of corn, 950 hectares of sorghum and 440 hectares of sunflower, in addition to sowing millet in part of the area and brachiaria in coverage. Due to the atypical year in terms of climate, the soybeans planted in October had a post-planting moisture deficit, and were replanted in approximately 19% of the area, when the farm's history is less than 4%.

In this first year, the initial phase involves understanding the farm system and, in order not to lose focus on what we are really looking for, some indicators were adopted, which are productivity, sustainability and economic viability. In a project of this magnitude, which is in no way experimental and restricted to scientific research, statistically controlled, and on a business operational scale, it has a control room at the Agritex Agrícola dealership, in Água Boa (MT), and a room in the AFS Connect Center, at the Case IH factory, in Sorocaba (SP). In both locations it is possible to see the same screen seen by the operator on the tractor, but it can also be seen on portable equipment, such as a tablet or smartphone, which constitute remote assistance tools.

100% CONNECTED

Some of the obstacles to the efficient use of remote technology like this are the speed and ability to transmit data between points. For this, mobile broadband (wireless) network technology is needed for fourth generation mobile telephony (4G). A TIM tower, a partner in the project, was installed on the farm, which serves the farm but benefits the entire region. ConectarAgro's proposal, which came from a group of companies of which CNH is part, supported by the Brazilian government, to implement cellular telephony in remote environments, is enabling the association of these companies to interact with the ministries of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply and of Communications, in order to accelerate the connectivity process in the field. This will enable the full adoption of machine and system integration, which can be developed within the scope of Agriculture 4.0, with remotely controlled machines, Artificial Intelligence and IoT.

A point to highlight is that the system proposed by Case IH fits perfectly into the provisions of the General Personal Data Protection Law (LGPD), which only uses and analyzes data from third parties, with prior authorization. During the testing day, we visited the Agritex Agrícola dealership, in Água Boa, to learn how the machinery is viewed and managed, in a room in the company's hall. Using huge monitors, it is possible to know the real-time location of all machines connected to the system and, for each of them, know information about the operation and status of the machine.

In this way, maintenance plans can be drawn up and service provision provided by the concessionaire, and even notify the operator in case of irregularities and/or failures that occur. Imagine that, from kilometers away, the technician monitoring the operation can warn the operator about supply needs, seeding line failures, proximity to other machines, excessive losses, among others. A simple communication with the operator by telephone would solve many problems.

Currently, the project has several machines with embedded technology for acquiring information, connecting to the 4G network tower and, through this, transmitting it to control rooms. The perspective is that by 2025, all Case IH tractors from the Puma series or higher and all harvester models will be equipped with this new AFS Connect technology.

Ultimately, the technology proposed by Case IH makes countless possibilities for collecting information possible. Now, the key point is to face the challenges of Digital Agriculture, which are: transmission compatible with the precision required in the digital process; debugging data so that it is useful; storage (Big Data) and, finally, the form of data analysis, with indicators that may be useful for the management process. Perhaps, in our opinion, in this transition phase we are in, 4G connectivity is the main challenge. It no longer depends on machine manufacturers, but on the country, with its economic, political and structural difficulties.

Through the my.CaseIH.com Portal or the application, available on iOS and Android platforms, with the account integrated with AFS Connect, the customer will be able to view the information collected from their machines. You will also have access to the portal that offers fleet management, agronomic management and data management, for real-time decision making, even far from the farm. And dealerships will be able to set up the so-called AFS Connect Center, and thus receive information from all machinery, creating a large control room, with various services.

AgXtend is a product line that can be fully integrated with Case IH agriculture platforms, as long as technical compatibility criteria are met. These are products developed by CNH Industrial for Precision Agriculture solutions, which allow greater data control. The products offered range from solutions to help rural producers with soil preparation, weed control, fertilization and harvesting. These products can be purchased at Case IH dealerships.

Jose Fernando Schlosser,
Marcelo Silveira de Farias and
Daniel Ciro de Souza,
Agrotechnology Laboratory,
Nema – UFSM