Smart Farming terminals

The CrossControl display & on-board computing platform is developed with the mindset that sustainable smart farming solutions are best achieved in an ecosystem where the strengths of specialised vendors can be combined. Key concepts for this approach take advantage of two strengths of CrossControl’s solution - Interoperability and an open software platform.

Implement control with ISOBUS, section control, advanced sensing, and guidance are examples of digital tools that help farmers improve productivity. But there are more benefits to gain by integrating these solutions and adding further automation and autonomy.

Display & computing platform
Starting with hardware, CrossControl offers a wide range of standard integrated display computers with a choice of performance levels and display sizes - with a product for every size and colour of iron. 

Displays are available with our open software platform, based on Linux and Qt, it offers OEMs and System Suppliers the ability to choose the software toolchain of preference and easily migrate applications between physical display sizes. A key aspect of our open software platform approach is to make it easier to port legacy applications rather than impose unnecessary restrictions on customers by using proprietary or archaic platforms. 

With this display platform approach, a wide range of display solutions can be realized, from small auxiliary displays, for example used for managing agent mixing and tank levels, to the larger displays for ISOBUS, section control and guidance.

Our larger display computers, like the new CCpilot V1090 and V1290, have the screen real estate and the application processor performance to run multiple applications concurrently. In addition to ISOBUS components, Universal Terminal & Task Controller, the displays can also run guidance & autosteer applications, instrumentation, video monitoring and other operator support functions like on-board manuals and instruction videos, simultaneously. The CCpilot V1090 and V1290 are the first display computers in the market with an integrated switch for Ethernet cameras. The integrated Ethernet 100Base-T1 switch is an optional feature, allowing for example for connection of up to 4 100Base-T1 cameras to the display computer without an additional external device.

As system functionality grows, so does demand for screen real estate. Instead of using multiple display units, each running a single application or managing one set of functions, system and development cost can be reduced with a central computing unit, that drives multiple monitors. Such solutions can be realized with CrossCore A100 vehicle computer and monitors in sizes 10”, 12” and 14”. With this solution, different GUI applications can be moved dynamically between the physical screens as required, in any configuration that their deployment requires. Adopters can centralize computing while deploying a customisable, scalable HMI solution across fleets and machine tiers. It’s a new HMI architecture that simplifies hardware maintenance and streamlines software updates, to align with upcoming regulations and industry demands. 

The CrossCore A100 vehicle computer can be deployed ‘headless’, i.e. without monitors, for demanding process control, business logics or edge computing tasks. One such application is an implement computer, hosting the whole application software stack for the implement, to deliver process control, ISOBUS, advanced sensing processing (including cameras), IoT edge computing and advanced AI-based automation functions.

Window and application management
The platform is available with a window management solution built with a leading-edge windowing framework for Linux. It gives development teams the support needed to create one HMI system that deploys multiple dynamic applications. Applications can be built with toolchains of choice, including Qt, CODESYS, and HTML5. Developers can design the HMI system and GUIs so that applications can adapt to fit task requirements, switching between predefined layouts as vehicles change operations. End users can be given the option to set their layout to suit their individual requirements and way of working. The robust framework is available across all display sizes and supports multi-screen solutions. Applications can be maintained separately, providing flexible life cycle management, where you can add and update, throughout the product’s deployment, without needing to synchronize new releases of all applications. It includes support for containers (Docker, Containerd etc), lightweight, standalone, executable packages of software that includes everything needed to run an application. Licence Manager further supports this approach offering a simple and ready to use licensing handler for the CrossControl range of displays and on-board computers, making it easier to control software in machines. The license manager takes care of the entire chain, generation of license requests, authoring license keys and enabling or disabling application features.
 
Combine industry leading hardware and software
CrossControl’s open software approach and industry leading terminal hardware support the integration of expertise and best in class software applications. For example, combining our terminal platform with Reichhardt SmartCommand, an advanced ISOBUS software platform that incorporates Reichhardt’s 35 years expertise in agricultural equipment process control to deliver a modular software approach where ISOBUS UT, Task Controller, Section control or Variable Rate control are enabled based on the specific application needs. The feature set can include Reichhardt’s AEF-certified autosteering solution as an option.

OEMs and System Suppliers can freely deploy additional, non-ISOBUS, functionality to a terminal, for example video monitoring, instrumentation, vehicle settings, or e-manuals. This functionality is realized based on the CrossControl open software platform, which supports a variety of toolchains including Qt, CODESYS or HTML5. Platform adopters are free to select the level of support and functionality they require. 

CrossControl partners with OEMs and System Suppliers to realize complete solutions. We provide state-of-the art hardware coupled with versatile middleware and our partners add deep application and system integration skills which, when combined, results in industry leading smart farming solutions.