Agricultural and heavy-equipment manufacturer John Deere is pushing the boundaries of innovation by integrating advanced Industry 4.0 technologies into both its manufacturing processes and agricultural equipment. At the recent Mobile World Live event, Jason Wallin, senior principal architect for the company’s tech stack, detailed how John Deere is utilizing its own technology to enhance efficiency across its operations.
John Deere’s strategy involves implementing private 5G networks in its factories, allowing for real-time tracking of every part throughout the assembly process. This capability is especially crucial for the production of large tractors and earth-moving machinery. Wallin emphasized that the company benefits from applying the same technological innovations found in its products to the manufacturing environment itself.
Digital Twins and Their Applications
Wallin elaborated on the use of digital twins, a concept that allows for a virtual representation of physical assets. John Deere employs two distinct types of digital twins within its manufacturing facilities. The first is an operational digital twin, which creates a comprehensive digital model of the factory layout, tracking the movement of every component—from nuts and bolts to assembled machines.
“The second digital twin records the torque of each screw, nut, and bolt as equipment progresses down the assembly line,” Wallin explained. Notably, the company’s high-end XR farm combine contains over 18,000 individual part numbers. This data is vital as it helps engineers understand how these components perform in real-world scenarios after assembly.
Innovative Technologies in Action
In addition to digital twins, John Deere harnesses technologies such as computer vision, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and deep data analytics to optimize its factories. For instance, its autonomous tractors utilize GPS and multiple cameras to efficiently plow and till fields prior to planting.
John Deere’s advanced see-and-spray technology is particularly noteworthy; it can distinguish between crops and weeds while determining the optimal planting depth and water requirements. “We can drive through the field at about 13 miles per hour,” Wallin noted. “While doing that, we’ve got 64 different individual cameras that are taking pictures of every plant as it moves through the field, assessing whether it is healthy or a weed that requires chemical treatment.”
Wallin also pointed out that the technology stack developed by John Deere can be licensed to support farmers with smaller operations. “Ultimately, our vision is to provide the right level of technology for our customers, enabling them to achieve maximum efficiency, regardless of the scale of their operations,” he stated.
As John Deere navigates its journey through Industry 4.0 and prepares for the transition to Industry 5.0, the company remains focused on leveraging cutting-edge technology to lead the agricultural and heavy equipment sectors into the future.
