Lindsay Announces World's First Smart Pivot

Lindsay Corporation, based in Nebraska, in the United States, announced a revolution for the global agribusiness market, presenting a new irrigation concept for producers. The Smart Pivot is the first in the world that fits into a new category of mechanized and autonomous irrigation. The equipment goes beyond traditional water application and management to reach and provide a wide range of data on crop health and equipment performance. Simultaneously making accurate information available to the producer, generating not only proven savings in water, energy and other inputs, such as fertilizers and agricultural pesticides.

Smart Pivot combines satellite and aerial images, sensors and cameras embedded in the pivot to detect anomalies in the field, helping to make decisions regarding all crop management easier, not just irrigation, optimizing the use of equipment. The Smart Pivot concept features FieldNET advanced agronomy and predictive machine health diagnostics with Zimmatic telemetry capabilities, designed to deliver more profitable crops and more sustainable farming practices, significantly expanding what the traditional pivot is capable of.

According to Gustavo Oberto, president of irrigation at Lindsay, the new concept introduces the next era of mechanized irrigation. "He offers insights and efficiency never seen before for the producer's operation, changing the way he - and the industry - looks at and uses center pivots. The equipment practically takes care of itself and its crops”, he highlights.

Network pivot

Smart Pivot is a platform of connected sensors, images, and controls integrated with analytics - what the company calls a networked pivot. This allows data to be collected from multiple sensors. “The pivot is a robot on alert 24/7, efficiently and accurately seeing everything that is happening in every part of its field, instantly increasing its ability to identify and correct problems before they become serious and cause losses”, says the general director of Lindsay do Brasil, Eduardo Navarro.

In implementing and developing this new concept, the brand sought strategic partners who stand out in their respective areas for collaborative action. One of the companies is Taranis, which currently oversees millions of hectares in the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Russia, Ukraine and Australia.

Crop health

With Taranis' expertise in aerial monitoring and high-resolution images, Smart Pivot will monitor crop growth stages, detect and identify anomalies in the field. These problems can include nutrient deficiencies, weeds, pest pressure and diseases such as white mold in soybeans, an example of great damage if not detected quickly.

Complementing the process is FieldNET Advisor technology, a tool that combines all complex data and calculations and provides precise and simplified information on the irrigation operation to the producer. This generates recommendations for operating and handling the pivot within the same platform.

Machine health

Smart Pivot also has operational resources that monitor the performance of the pivot and its other components in real time. This became possible with the use of a cloud computing platform, and Big Data and Data Science, which will help detect potential problems with equipment and be able to automatically contact the dealer to request maintenance and repairs. “Both the producer’s team and the reseller’s technical team that serves them will receive this alert, making decision-making proactive. Our representative will know what is happening with the equipment and what will need to be done for maintenance. This is one of the facilities that will add a lot to the producer’s daily life, reducing equipment downtime”, highlights Navarro.

According to Lindsay's General Director, resellers will play a fundamental role in this process, and will be an important part. Therefore, they will be prepared to help producers make the best use of these technologies. “Well-educated dealers will be responsible for helping producers maintain their equipment at the highest level and operational efficiency. Lindsay is preparing for it to be a tool available on the market in the near future,” he highlights.

Tests in Brazil

Smart pivot capabilities are in full development. Field tests are underway, including in Brazil. The Brazilian team is integrated with the head office engineering team and all needs and demands are being well addressed. “All the data generated will be translated into actions and information, the producer will only have to worry about making the best use of them by applying everything that Smart Pivot is making available”, concludes Navarro.

Lindsay is focusing on incorporating feedback from growers in North America and Brazil. Very soon the forecast for the first launches will be announced. The idea is a limited commercial offer at first.