Nowadays, it is hard to imagine daily life without tablets, whether at home or at work. The agricultural sector is also making increasing use of the flexibility of tablets. This is especially the case for contractors working across multiple farms. These devices provide access at any time and any place to important farm-specific data, applications and information such as customer data as well as land management, navigation, e-mailing and weather forecasting functionality.

CLAAS is now expanding the versatility of these commercially available devices with a software application for controlling agricultural implements. The EASY on board App uses the integrated ISO Universal Terminal application (ISO UT) to map the ISOBUS system of the implement on the tablet, allowing it to be operated via touchscreen. In combination with the EASY on board App, the tablet can thus become a low-cost alternative to the ISOBUS terminal of the implement in future. Thanks to the ISOBUS compatibility, the tablet solution can also be used with ISOBUS machines from other manufacturers. For convenient operation, the tablet can also be used to assign implement functions to the F-keys on the tractor operating lever. However, customers who prefer the conventional operating system with the implement terminal can, of course, still obtain the terminal.

How it works

To use the EASY on board App, both the implement and tractor must be ISOBUS-capable and connected by a standard ISOBUS cable. Communication between the implement and the tablet takes place over WLAN. For this purpose, the WLAN adapter (CWI - CLAAS Wireless Interface) is connected to the in-cab ISOBUS socket of the tractor, which also supplies power to the WLAN adapter.

The WLAN adapter and a universal bracket for the tablet are purchased just once. The required EASY on board App can be downloaded easily and free of charge from the App Store. Users can also carry out software updates themselves just as quickly and easily. Initially, the EASY on board App will be available for Apple tablets with the operating system iOS8 or later.

From next year, CLAAS will provide the EASY on board App for operating the ROLLANT 455, 454 and 375 UNIWRAP baler models, the CARGOS 8000 and 9000 dual-purpose wagon model series, the LINER 3600 and 4000 swathers as well as the DISCO 1100 C/RC BUSINESS, 9400 C DUO, 9200 C BUSINESS and 9200 C AS disc mowers.

In October 2014 CLAAS brought together its in-house electronics expertise for the first time within the new subsidiary CLAAS E-Systems. The headquarters are currently located in Gütersloh, Germany. In the next year the new technology development center of CLAAS E-Systems will be constructed near Dissen