Nov 12, 2013

  • The "cab.let" study is a joint project of automotive supplier Continental and RAFI
  • The concept will be premiered at Agritechnica, from November 12 to 16, 2013 in Hanover

Villingen-Schwenningen/Berg/Ravensburg, November 12, 2013.The international automotive supplier Continental, together with RAFI, a manufacturer of electromechanical components and control systems for human-machine communication, is presenting an entirely new operating concept for agricultural and construction machinery at Agritechnica from November 12 through 16 in Hanover.

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The aim of development, on the one hand, was to appreciably simplify vehicle operation, to enable intuitive control, as well as to achieve user-specific improvements in ease of handling, and on the other hand to advance the integration of the vehicle in the planning of farm work with the aid of external equipment.

For this purpose, the console unit and its operation, as we know them today, have been thoroughly reconsidered and redesigned: cab.let comprises a 3-D control, a touchscreen and an electronic control unit, all packaged in a visually appealing, space-saving and high-grade design.Cab.let is designed with redundant controls. The driver can either use the new, capacitive 3-D control or select functions by means of a touch screen with haptic feedback.

The 3-D control is incorporated into the driver armrest and ergonomically shaped. Switches and buttons have disappeared; instead thumb and index figure glide over a module which is vaguely reminiscent of a computer mouse and functions solely by touch and swipe movements, with guides to support the fingers during operation.

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Information is displayed by a robust touch screen attached to the armrest. Alternatively, the touch screen can be used for inputting, with the information input being confirmed by haptic feedback in the form of a clearly perceptible pulse. These innovative operating concepts - patents have been applied for them - will be presented to the public for the first time at the Agritechnica show.

One of the decisive advantages of this solution, developed by RAFI on behalf of and in collaboration with Continental, is the complete elimination of wear-prone, easily soiled switches, plus the option of disabling or enabling user-specific controls.

The innovative electronic control unit not only functions as an interface with the vehicle, but also permits the combination with current smartphones.

Authentication of the driver via smartphone at the vehicle activates user-specific rights and permits personalization of the vehicle. This way it is possible to provide different functions to a contractor than, for example, to the vehicle's owner. In addition, for agricultural use, personalized driving profiles and sequences can be saved and even transferred to other machines with the aid of a smartphone. It goes without saying that familiar multimedia functions such as music and telephony also are made available through the smartphone integration.

A tractor seat featuring the innovative cab.let solution can be tested at both the RAFI stand and the Continental stand (H311 in Hall 1).

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