LaserLoad gets silver

Spelle, September 2013. LaserLoad is the automatic filling system for Krone Big X forage harvesters. The accurate and stress-free system controls the position of the spout and so the chopped crop is blown into the trailer on target and without losses, bridging even large distances between forager and trailer. The innovative LaserLoad system from Krone will receive the DLG Silver Medal award at upcoming Agritechnica.

Every farmer and contractor is familiar with the following situation: Opening up a maize field, the forager operator has to watch what is going on at the header while simultaneously directing the spout at the trailer following behind, making sure all crop is blown into the trailer rather than somewhere else. This is a challenging situation, and Krone has found a solution for it. The new LaserLoad system uses an industrial scanner which is attached to the end of the spout from where it samples a 190-degree area to deliver 2D scans. At the same time, an electric laser head moves up and down to provide the third dimension of the picture. Using special algorithms, the LaserLoad system then computes the contours of the cart and produces a rectangular box which outlines the target area for the spout to direct its stream of chopped forage. This means that the spout is positioned automatically and the crop flow is targeted into the trailer, even when this is following at a great distance.

This smart LaserLoad technology provides a number of obvious benefits, i.e. the forager operator can concentrate on the header and the work ahead and no material is blown outside the trailer. Moreover, LaserLoad also works at night without lighting, and its functionality is not affected by dust, debris, rain or shading. The forager operator can also use the system for unloading into a trailer that is travelling alongside, making those long days in the field less stressful and fatiguing.