The future strategic competitive advantage lies not only in the hardware, but also in the data analysis algorithms. Looking to the medium-term, the data captured will allow Continental to offer additional services. This will help to ensure stable crop yields and protect the environment. The autonomous and automated driving of agricultural vehicles goes hand in hand here with across-the-board process automation, offering farmers real added value: Instead of driving the vehicles, the farmer of the future will take on a monitoring role, which will free up more time for planning and coordinating their farming tasks.

Activities relating to the intelligent and targeted management of agricultural areas are set to increase further over the coming years, with autonomous agricultural machinery being a key component. External studies have shown that the market for “precision farming”—including the corresponding hardware and software—will grow by around 12% to approximately €4.5 billion (US$5.25 billion) by 2020. Due to their vast tracts of cultivable land and high technological standards, North America and Europe are set to be the fastest-growing markets.

In the future, data relating to the properties and characteristics of farming land will be available at all times, thereby enabling high-precision, targeted sowing. Communication between different vehicles will also help to make agricultural operations more efficient. Advanced driver assistance systems and predictive maintenance concepts are already integral elements of the agricultural industry.

Sensors, for example, measure the temperatures of different components and supply real-time information about their current condition, which helps to extend the service life of components and reduce unplanned failures. Cameras and radar systems give drivers all-round visibility and generate images of the surrounding area or of areas that are otherwise difficult to see. Screens provide an at-a-glance display of all the data available and relevant to drivers. In addition to harvesting efficiency, targeted monitoring also increases the safety of people and animals and helps to protect the environment.

To achieve its goals in this sector, Continental is drawing on the technological expertise of its automotive engineers and systematically transferring this knowhow to the needs of its customers in the agricultural industry. In turn, experience from the agricultural industry is helping to support developments in the automotive industry, too.