John Deere focuses on new tech

John Deere has shown its latest technological solutions for the construction industry at ConExpo, with the company stating that new technology is ‘changing the construction industry.’

The new offerings, which include obstacle intelligence, SmartWeigh, SmartAttach and a new scraper earthmoving productivity system, will assist operators while boosting job site productivity and efficiency.

“The construction industry is rapidly changing, and technology is a driving factor in this evolution,” said Kevin Very, director of technology and product marketing, John Deere Construction & Forestry. “The right technology impacts how a customer bids a job, manages their fleet, assists with operator recruitment and retention, and ultimately improves overall profitability. Technology development is changing the construction industry, and we are continuing to accelerate our technology innovation across equipment and job sites.”

One of the more forward-thinking technology solutions on display is said to be the Advanced Rear Object Detection System that is part of the 944K Hybrid Wheeled Loader showcase. This is one of the Obstacle Intelligence solutions that helps to supplement the operator’s situational awareness by identifying objects in close proximity to the equipment.

Also displayed on the 944K Hybrid Wheel Loader is the SmartWeigh integrated payload weighing system, which is in development for John Deere’s four-wheel-drive loaders (744L, 824L, 844L, 944K Hybrid) in the near future.

Shared through the touchscreen in-cab monitor, the factory-installed system enables operators to accurately load material without interruption and is integrated with JDLink to track and visualise payload data in the JDLink portal and JDLink Mobile. By enabling the operator to quickly weigh and track loads, workflow is maximised and productivity is increased.

The company also showed a display of the SmartAttach system, which it is claimed will make installing attachments easier in the future by automatically configuring the machine to the attachment. SmartAttach reduces setup time, decreases the likelihood of damage due to incorrect settings.

Using SmartAttach, the operator spends less time setting up equipment and can instead focus on the actual job at hand. SmartAttach is integrated with JDLink via a Bluetooth beacon, and together they record the location of attachments and populate that information in the JDLink portal and JDLink Mobile.