Hexagon presents innovations at EIMA 2024, focusing on autonomy and agricultural productivity 

Hexagon's Autonomy & Positioning division, a leading provider of autonomy and positioning solutions for agribusiness, will attend the International Agricultural and Gardening Machinery Exhibition (EIMA) in Bologna, Italy. The event runs from November 6-10, and is a key industry gathering where experts, companies, and farmers convene to explore technological advancements driving the digital transformation of agriculture.

Hexagon's Autonomy & Positioning division, a leading provider of autonomy and positioning solutions for agribusiness, will attend the International Agricultural and Gardening Machinery Exhibition (EIMA) in Bologna, Italy. The event runs from November 6-10, and is a key industry gathering where experts, companies, and farmers convene to explore technological advancements driving the digital transformation of agriculture.

At the company's booth, experts will be available to demonstrate how their positioning and autonomy technology solutions can boost agricultural productivity. Highlights include the SMART7 and SMART2 antennas. Additionally, the stand will feature machine control solutions like the Core Box and Track Controller, along with the Ti7 and Ti10 displays, which enable the use of precision agriculture resources.

"Presenting our technology at EIMA 2024 is essential to showcase Hexagon's advanced technologies for OEMs in agribusiness. We will be introducing next-level solutions for agricultural autonomy that will benefit manufacturers and robotics companies worldwide", says Bernardo de Castro, VP of Agriculture Strategy at Hexagon's Autonomy & Positioning division, which recently received the Spirent Sustainability Through Navigation Award from the Royal Institute of Navigation in England.

"Presenting our technology at EIMA 2024 is essential to showcase Hexagon's advanced technologies for OEMs in agribusiness. We will be introducing next-level solutions for agricultural autonomy that will benefit manufacturers and robotics companies worldwide", says Bernardo de Castro, VP of Agriculture Strategy at Hexagon's Autonomy & Positioning division, which recently received the Spirent Sustainability Through Navigation Award from the Royal Institute of Navigation in England.

Generating Business at the Event

EIMA International is one of Europe’s leading events dedicated to agricultural machinery, gardening, and related technologies. Organised by FederUnacoma (Italian Federation of Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers), EIMA is held biennially at the BolognaFiere exhibition center in Bologna, Italy.

The 2022 edition recorded 327,000 visitors and over 50,000 business meetings, highlighting its significance in fostering business partnerships. This year, participation and business outcomes are anticipated to rise. "This is an excellent opportunity to connect with our target audience of agricultural machinery manufacturers in person, present new products from our portfolio, and expand our international presence", says Bernardo de Castro.

Solutions Presented at EIMA

The Hexagon team will be exhibiting satellite positioning, machine control and perception technologies at the booth. These technologies provide agricultural machinery manufacturers a complete solution to achieve greater autonomy and positioning precision, or can be integrated independantly to allow for flexibility and scalability. According to Szabo, optional firmware can be added as requirements evolve, and regular functionality and technology updates provides longevity to the hardware. For example, the SMART7 Antenna, which functions as a primary receiver of multi-constellation and multi-frequency GNSS signals; and the SMART2 Antenna, Hexagon's entry-level solution, which offers benefits such as dual-frequency tracking and terrain compensation, when combined, they provide redundancy in positioning and a high accuracy heading, even when the vehicle is stationary or slow-moving.

Also on display will be the Core Box, a technology that works as a steering controller offering a modular and easy to integrate solution for manufacturers of agricultural machinery and implements. It is compatible with a range of equipment. "Having reliable equipment that correctly determines the direction in which a machine is oriented is essential to guarantee autonomy in the field. In practice, industry scenarios can be challenging and it is important that equipment can be controlled remotely with confidence and safety. GNSS positioning, machine control and perception are the fundamental technologies for this.", Bernardo says.

Ionospheric Scintillation

One of the company’s goals at the event is to enhance awareness among agribusiness producers and manufacturers about solutions available to mitigate the effects of ionospheric scintillation. This phenomenon involves rapid and irregular fluctuations in the intensity of radio frequency signals traveling through the ionosphere—a layer of the Earth's atmosphere with ionised particles that can reflect and refract radio signals, including those used in satellite communications and GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) navigation systems. This issue has been aggravated this year by an increase in solar flares, creating challenges for those who depend on satellite positioning technologies for operating agricultural machinery.

To address these impacts, Hexagon has introduced new firmware enhancements that, when used with its TerraStar PPP (Precise Point Positioning) solution, reduce position errors and downtime caused by scintillation. Powered by an extensive global network, TerraStar corrections provide continuous worldwide coverage, ensuring safe and reliable positioning in all weather conditions, anytime and anywhere.