The Future of Smart Components and Networking in Agriculture
The next big technological steps in agricultural equipment involve enhancing precision and simplifying the operation of complex machinery, said Marcus Specks, key market manager at HAWE Hydraulik. His vision for the future of machine designs includes reducing the number of controls in the tractor cab, making the tractor itself a simpler tool for pulling attachments. The attachment would become more sophisticated, incorporating sensors to optimize the farming process.
In this transformation, Specks said he sees a shift from traditional hydraulic mechanical products to smart electrical hydraulic components and envisions a future where hydraulic systems provide the muscle, while electronic intelligence acts as the brain, ensuring precision, reliability and efficiency.
He notes the enduring benefits of hydraulics—especially in terms of high forces, low space and weight consumption, and robust simplicity.
When asked about modular electronic components in the machinery and whether they can be easily replaced, Specks said the logic behind using a modular design is to enable a simple manual override and easy exchange of onboard electronics. He hints at the emergence of self-learning components and emphasizes the direction toward plug-and-run electronic components that integrate and share information, which could simplify maintenance and replacement.
Finally, Specks talks about the communication between different agricultural components, highlighting the integration of CANbus technology and smart components. This integration can improve the farming process and aid resource efficiency while minimizing losses, thereby contributing to a more sustainable and precise agricultural chain.
In this third installment of a three-part interview, Specks gives Power & Motion insight into how the integration of advanced hydraulic control systems with electronic intelligence can change the way farm machinery operates and optimizes agricultural processes, which can contribute to a more efficient and sustainable farming ecosystem.
Watch additional parts of this interview series with Marcus Specks of HAWE:
