Topcon and AMAZONE form strategic partnership

Topcon Precision Agriculture (TPA) and AMAZONE Ltd. announce a strategic partnership in which TPA will provide hardware components and expertise for automatic steering systems and section control for a complete range of professional farming solutions.

Customers will realize benefits as the systems have been optimally matched and tested to ensure a maximum range of dependable applications while delivering outstanding accuracy and precision.

The initial project of the partnership was the development of user-friendly content for an ISOBUS-operator terminal with a unique AMAZONE functionality. This console will be presented at Agritechnica 2011 in Hannover, Germany, as the new AMAPAD ISOBUS terminal.

At the heart of this new product and collaboration is the innovative AgApp (Agriculture Applications) concept developed by AMAZONE. This concept allows third-party software to be loaded onto an operator terminal, which means applications from independent developers can be fully integrated into the console interface. Now, the end user really only needs one control terminal – whether operating a machine or a sensor.

In most cases, operator terminals are closed systems with a defined range of functionality for a dedicated implement, i.e., sprayer, windrower, etc. Now the end user can select the application best suited to individual needs for any particular piece of farm machinery.

Thus, an operator can quickly decide which sensor technology (e.g. nitrogen sensors) to use.

Mike Gomes, TPA director of marketing, said, "Modern terminals, with more than one application, all have a common problem: the sensible division of the display area. While other manufacturers rely on cumbersome, static systems, Topcon and AMAZONE are offering a more elegant solution. The innovative 'mini view concept' displays applications which are actually not being actively operated but are being monitored, in a small size at the side of the large 12.1" multi-touch screen If necessary," Gomes said, "The operator is able to change applications very quickly. Easy-access keys and the possibility to cover the control panel with individual display windows complete the operator ergonomics."

With its modern design and ultra-narrow border, the compact console can easily be integrated into any tractor.

The AMAPAD console provides the following as standard features:

• ISOBUS operator terminal - The console can control all ISOBUS implements via one universal terminal.
• Task Controller (pre-series 2012) - Allows the exchange of data with software from an office PC with the condition that the office PC software supports the ISOBUS data transfer (ISO-XML). Simply store the job on a USB stick and transfer to the AMAPAD operator terminal. When the job is complete, the data can then be reloaded onto the office PC.