Raven Cart Automation syncs combine with grain carts during harvest

Raven Industries' Cart Automation is planned to coordinate unload operation between the grain cart operator and combine operator by syncing the cart’s heading and speed with the combine. 

Raven’s top goals with this system are to increase harvest productivity, minimize grain spill, and reduce operator stress in the cab. This is all intended to remedy one of the most pressing issues farmers are facing at the moment. 

“We know that our customers are seeing issues with finding skilled labor with the inability to find skilled labor,” says Matthew Horne, global business owner for harvest automation and autonomy at Raven Industries. “Sometimes the labor we get in the cab is only that which is able to operate at less than optimal efficiency. We know that customers are facing grain spills and lost profitability because of that reduction in efficiency and reduction to productivity.”

Farmers are ready for this technology too — 67% of farmers are planning to adopt autonomy technology by 2027, with 47% planning to by 2025, according to a survey by Raven and Forward Group conducted in May 2022.

In operation

While using Raven Cart Automation during harvest, when the grain tank becomes full, the combine operator can simply push a button and call the grain cart to them. That grain cart can then enter the operational window. 

When the operator is ready, they can press a steering engagement button to align the heading of the tractor to the combine. After steering has been engaged, they can then engage propulsion and the tractor pulling the cart will accelerate at speeds up to 15 mph to catch the combine and get to the unload point. At that point, the combine can then begin unloading grain. 

The operator will have the capability to “nudge” the cart, enabling them to move it forward and backward, 15 inches toward the header, or 60 inches away to fill the cart evenly. 

After the grain cart filling process is done and the combine operator disengages the unload tube, the tractor operator simply has to steer away and the sync will disengage so they can unload.

Testing

In early testing, Raven found some farmers cut their training time for new operators in half, and were able to put more inexperienced operators in the cab. Raven has also seen increases in field efficiency, with the ability to maintain harvest speed by reducing slow down events while unloading. 

“We've seen up to, in some cases, a 10% reduction in slowdown events while unloading, equating to more harvest efficiencies throughout the day,” says Horne.

Tech and compatibility

The Raven Cart Automation system makes use of local radio communication between cart and combine, for more reliable synchronization. Farmers using this system will be able to sync up to six grain carts and combine systems in one operation. 

Raven Cart Automation is compatible with most Case IH and New Holland tractors with CVT/PST transmission from model year 2020 or newer.

Raven Cart Automation is compatible with all Case IH Axial Flow 240 and 250 model combines and New Holland CR6.80, CR6.90, CR7.80, CR7.90, CR8.90, CR9.90, CR10.90 combines with a common cab.

Availability 

Raven Cart Automation is available now through Case IH and New Hollands dealers. For more information, visit www.ravenind.com.