Continental has announced it is using sensor technology to improve efficiency on the farm, with the launch of its new instrument cluster.
The robust, cost-effective MultiViu media system combines vehicle connectivity with control and multimedia functions.
The fully programmable system includes a 12.3in color TFT display, a real-time 2D graphic display and a video display, and eases the driver workload by presenting all the relevant information in clear, readable layouts symbols, scales, animated text, and bar charts.
Dr Michael Ruf, head of the business unit commercial vehicles and aftermarket at Continental, said, “Agriculture 4.0 is no longer a far-off dream. Agricultural machines communicate with one another, while sensor technology is making components and machines intelligent and providing high volumes of valuable data.
“Thanks to all this information, drivers can control their farm machines even more precisely, efficiently and in a more environmentally friendly way. Provided that their workstations always supply them with the relevant information from this growing data flow at the right time and in a clearly comprehensible way.
“Digitization has the potential to bring about great increases in efficiency. To exploit these, it is vital to place the focus on the driver as the interface between information and action.”
Affordable solution
The MultiViu Compact primary instrumentation
with 7in display and touchscreen is a compact, affordable and above all versatile instrumentation solution. When switched off, it has a black, homogeneous surface (black-panel design) that
fits perfectly into any interior design concept.
Continental’s developers placed great emphasis
on a bright display that can be read even under unfavorable lighting conditions like bright sun.
The MultiViu Compact 7’s glass front and display are bonded to reduce reflections. The display is
also robust, waterproof and vibration-resistant.
An optional built-in Bluetooth module enables the driver to easily retrieve vehicle information like
oil or fuel levels by cell phone and forward this directly.
As a result, this information can be used to plan journeys and service dates. Conversely, the screen can also display messages from a smartphone and inform the driver about incoming calls, for instance. Two CAN ports, a video input and multiple digital and analog inputs and outputs round off the technical features.
As an entry-level variant, Continental also offers the MultiViu Compact with a 4.3in display, meaning that this version is available in the size of a smartphone.
October 13, 2017
