Workplace accidents are one of the most serious unresolved issues in Italian society. According to the latest Eurostat data, Italy unfortunately holds the unenviable record for the highest number of workplace fatalities in Europe, the tip of an iceberg that recorded nearly 500,000 reported injuries in Italy in 2023. This is a problem often discussed, but only during dramatic and sensational events, without adequate preventive policies following. Among the hardest-hit productive sectors is the primary sector, where injury rates are significantly higher than the national average.
In fact, around 30,000 accidents occur annually in agriculture, a figure that is already alarming but becomes tragic when considering that the most severe injuries account for approximately 40 percent of the so-called “white deaths” in the country. It is essentially a silent slaughter currently mitigated only by the awareness, moral responsibility, and commitment of companies in the sector, as evidenced by the latest innovation proposed by Argo Tractors, a manufacturer always attentive to placing the “human factor” at the center of its operations.
An advanced vision system
In this specific case, the Emilia-Romagna-based group has designed and developed an advanced vision system that not only facilitates the work of those behind the wheel of a tractor but also enhances safety by protecting both operators and, especially, those working nearby.
Awarded as the Technical Innovation of Eima 2024 by a jury of experts and presented as a McCormick solution, the brand with the most innovative features from Argo Tractors, the “Hyper Safety View” system operates through the combination of computer vision technologies and artificial intelligence, along with a specific hardware architecture, enabling the detection of people or obstacles in the area around the tractor to prevent potential collisions through audio-visual alerts. Structured around a central processing unit that integrates specific software, four cameras for a 360-degree view—three on the roof and one at the front of the hood—and a direct ethernet connection with the tractor’s “Data Screen Manager Plus” monitor, “Hyper Safety View” can be managed via the onboard terminal through five different modes, named “Polar View,” “Surround,” “Ar,” “Cameras,” and “Adas.”
Radar detections and lots of “Ai”
The first mode, “Polar View,” performs radar detection to identify the distance from obstacles, while the second mode, “Surround,” merges images captured by the four cameras to generate a 360-degree view of the area surrounding the tractor. The third mode, “Ar,” uses artificial intelligence to reconstruct the vehicle’s trajectory, visually overlaying it on the real image, in contrast to the fourth mode, “Cameras,” which focuses on the images captured by the cameras to allow for detailed zooming. The fifth mode, “Adas,” finally supports and facilitates the front and rear coupling of equipment through an augmented reality system that displays traditional views from the cameras alongside the onboard monitor. Thus, it is a concentrate of useful and functional technologies that enables any operator on the tractor to activate a computerized view of the surrounding area, promptly alerting them through appropriate sound alerts and visual signals on the display about the risk of collisions with people or obstacles, supporting them in maximizing safety both in terms of eliminating traditional blind spots and ensuring a complete view of the area in front of the vehicle.
The perfect environment
As mentioned, the “Hyper Safety View” system will make its official debut at Eima 2024, equipping a McCormick “X7.624 Vt-Drive.” In fact, this model is the most high-performing in the “X7.6 Vt-Drive” series, thanks to the 240 horsepower produced by the six-cylinder FPT Industrial “Nef 67” engine, which has a displacement of six liters and 700 cubic centimeters, operating in conjunction with a continuously variable transmission created by combining a hydrostatic group with a four-speed mechanical gearbox, with the latter managed by a control unit that automatically performs both the gear shifts and the management of the hydrostatic part. These features effectively guide the tractor toward greater efficiency and rationality during intensive work cycles, which are traditionally at higher risk for accidents due to duration and environmental conditions, making it well-suited to pave the way for the new safety system designed and developed by Argo Tractors. This is also due to the fact that the latest generation McCormick “X7.6 Vt-Drive” tractors are equipped with the most advanced “Clever Cab” cabins, whose technological features in terms of infotainment and connectivity represent the ideal multimedia ecosystem to welcome and integrate an innovative solution like the “Hyper Safety View” system.
Title: With McCormick “Hyper Safety View” more safety and efficiency
Translation with ChatGPT
