iQblue vision
- ISOBUS-based operating concept
- Row spacing from 15 to 150 cm
- Detection of green tones & the RGB colour spectrum
Precise & smart hoeing with ISOBUS
With the iQblue vision camera control system developed by LEMKEN, you get an independent, stand-alone system that embodies more than 20 years of experience and expertise. Designed for the EC-Weeder hoeing machine and the EC-Steer parallelogram frame, iQblue vision enables you to hoe efficiently day and night – up to 2 cm from the crop. This high-precision camera control allows working speeds of up to 15 km/h for maximum area output.
The ISOBUS-based system is simple and intuitive to operate and is constantly being optimised to keep you at the forefront of technology. This makes it even easier to create space for your crops.
The availability and basic equipment of the machine may vary depending on the country. Please contact your dealer.
Advantages for you
- Fatigue-free hoeing day and night - without damaging the crop
- All controls possible via one terminal
- Hoeing up to 2 cm from the crop
- Maximum area output thanks to a working speed of up to 15 km/h
iQblue vision Quick start
Functions at a glance
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Terminal
The new operating concept fully integrates camera steering and section control into a single user interface. This means that the hoeing machine can be controlled easily and intuitively from any ISOBUS terminal. By using a CCI 1200 terminal, the live camera image can be displayed to take full advantage of all the system’s functions.
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Proportional valve
Precise control of the hoeing machine is supported by a proportional valve: If the distance between the hoe blades and the crop row becomes too great, the valve increases the amount of oil to ensure that the hoeing elements are brought back into the desired position more quickly.
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Camera
Developed by LEMKEN, the camera system uses colour, plant size and row position to reliably distinguish between crops and weeds in up to five rows. iQblue vision has a green mode and a self-learning colour mode that can recognise more than 65,000 colours, enabling the system to differentiate even better between crops, weeds and soil.
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LED headlights
The LED work lights fitted as standard on the camera ensure high precision, even in diffuse lighting conditions at dawn, dusk and in the dark.
Intelligent and precise camera control
Three key components are required for the iQblue vision control system to ensure fatigue-free and precise work:
- Camera
- User interface
- Parallel steering frame
Building blocks for maximum efficiency
During operation, iQblue vision records not only images from the robust, dustproof and waterproof camera, but also
- angle sensor data,
- the forward speed and
- the 3-point position
to enable precise steering of the hoeing machine even at high working speeds of up to 15 km/h.
As a result, the hoeing machine can be driven easily between rows without risking damage to the crop at any time.
Perfection in any light
Optimum row guidance is a must when using the hoeing machine. iQblue vision ensures that overexposed and underexposed images are superimposed in the case of (very) strong shadows. In addition, the mask function can be used from the operating terminal to cut out distracting objects, such as tractor tyres, from the camera image. This puts the focus on the crop row and therefore optimises row detection.
Precise combination
Whether integrated into the EC-Weeder V or used separately with EC-Steer, the parallel steering frame in combination with iQblue vision transmits the steering signal hydraulically to the hoeing machine. The steering frame ensures smooth and precise steering movements within a swivel range of 20 cm to the left and right. The steering frame even ensures successful cornering, as the distance between the camera and the hoe blades can be adjusted in the software. Lateral movement in corners is automatically compensated by measuring the forward movement.
Jerky steering movements are best avoided when hoeing, as they can cause damage to the crop. Open lower link stabilisers counteract these movements, as there is no direct transmission of movement between the tractor and the steering frame, unlike with conventional moving frames. The result is smooth and controlled steering.
The frame of the EC-Weeder 5V, EC-Weeder 7V and EC-Steer 7 is open in the centre to ensure that the iQblue vision camera control can be optimally positioned. For implements with a working width of up to 6 metres, this ensures that the camera’s field of view is not obstructed by the hoeing machine.
iQblue weeder operating concept
With the iQblue weeder software, LEMKEN is the first to successfully integrate the complete control of a hoeing machine, including camera image and section control, into an ISOBUS system and display it on a CCI 1200 terminal – a cost-effective, convenient and user-friendly solution for the operator.
The user interface of the iQblue weeder software is similar to other LEMKEN software solutions and offers intuitive and convenient setting of the implement parameters thanks to a range of display modes and clear icons. For example, different profiles can be created for different crops to minimise set-up times.
The hoeing machine can be fully controlled from a CCI 1200 terminal without the need for an additional terminal. The camera settings can be adjusted to optimally suit the conditions on site by switching between live and digital views on the terminal. As soon as the settings are changed, the adjusted work result can be seen immediately in the live image.
IQblue vision integrates camera steering with ISOBUS section control. This means that only one terminal with one software and one controller is needed to control the entire machine. Tractors without ISOBUS can be retrofitted with the ISOBUS retrofit kit. CCI A3 or programmable tractor joysticks can be used and freely assigned via the ISOBUS AUX-N functionality for the user-friendly optimisation of additional implement functions.
The system is AEF-certified. This confirms that the iQblue weeder has seamless access to ISOBUS signals such as speed, 3-point position and AUX-N controls.
To ensure that all machines always run the latest version of the software, updates are installed over the air to all job computers. Plug-and-play connections are available for installing additional software modules or options (e.g. second camera, lift sensor) to tailor the implement to your individual needs.
If help or support is required in the field, a remote service technician is available, who can access the software online to assist with troubleshooting and reduce downtime.
High-precision options
The Combi Cam function is automatically integrated on machines equipped with two cameras. It automatically combines the image data from the two cameras fitted, eliminating the need for manual switching and thus doubling the image data used by the iQblue vision system. This significantly improves row detection, especially in heterogeneous, patchy or very young crops and in field wedges, and greatly increases the precision of machine steering.
Combi Cam also interacts with the section control system. If the hoeing elements are raised on one side at the headlands, the system automatically switches off the relevant camera and uses the image data from the other camera for row detection. As a result, the hoeing machine continues to be guided precisely through the crop and weeds are controlled efficiently.
iQblue vision + is a special option for the iQblue vision camera system that enables high-precision hoeing in crops with many shades of blue. This makes it particularly suitable for crops such as
- onions
- leeks
- broccoli
- red cabbage
and keeps these crops weed-free even at very young growth stages.
To ensure precise steering even in late growth stages and large, robust crops such as
- maize
- soya
- sunflower
we recommend the use of a row sensor, which is available for the Combi element.
Precise hoeing is essential – and not just on flat ground. No crop plants should be damaged by the hoeing machine, not even on slopes, and regardless of soil conditions. That is why LEMKEN offers automatic slope compensation for slopes with an incline of 6 to 8 degrees. The slope angle is measured by an inclinometer and the camera offset is determined accordingly.
In very crusty soils, it may be more difficult for the hoeing shares to penetrate the soil. The ground pressure can be adjusted between 0 and 50 kg using the hydraulic pressure adjustment. This ensures that the hoeing shares work at the desired depth, even in difficult conditions, and thus deliver excellent results.
Hydraulic lifting and lowering of individual elements optimises the turning process and minimises hoeing losses. This process is automatically controlled by the Section Control application. If the headlands are tapered or edge strips need to be omitted, the parallelogram elements can be raised individually. This function also helps to minimise overlap and therefore hoeing losses.
Do you still have questions?
Our experts will be happy to answer your questions, just send us an e-mail!
Sarah Wolf
Product expert Crop Care