John Deere Power Systems: Nick Block, Director

Smarter and More Capable Engine Designs

Continued technology advancements will allow engines to operate more effi ciently and in an application-specifi c manner.

Diesel, Electric & Other Power Alternatives What opportunities for technology and effi ciency advancements still exist with diesel engines?

There are still many opportunities for continued advancements in diesel engines—and we know diesel power has a long life ahead.

From the technology side, we’ve leveraged new catalyst technologies and emissions control calibrations to enable the downsizing of aftertreatment. We will continue to focus on improving overall package size, reducing overall engine weight and integrating new generations of electronic control systems.

One trend that will continue to evolve in the next few years is less reliance on physical sensors. This is because engine control units continue to become more advanced and enable greater engine control and diagnostics performance. Furthermore, engines will become smarter and more capable—not only in terms of lower emissions or higher power, but by being more reliable to run in the way applications demand.

Are there any emissions or other related regulations your company is monitoring, or feel will have an impact on design eff orts and the industry?

As is typically the trend, we anticipate that the additional NOx reduction standards that are being considered for on-highway will eventually make their way to off -highway regulations. This will impact the industry as manufacturers continue to keep track of nuanced regulations from country to country while helping their customers manage necessary transitions.

Data, IoT & Connectivity How will the role of the Internet of Things (IoT) and data continue to progress in the coming years?

Our business and those of our customers are becoming more competitive and dynamic. We need to move faster and develop tools that deliver greater value for our customers. The John Deere Smart Industrial strategy is designed to unlock new value for customers and help them become more profi table and sustainable, while simultaneously revolutionizing the agriculture and construction industries through the rapid introduction of new technologies. Our track record of technological innovation puts us in a position to anticipate, respond and outpace the industry by off ering cutting-edge solutions to enhance customers’ productivity, profi tability and sustainability.

As a part of this strategy, we utilize the IoT and machine performance data to develop new solutions, particularly for our dealers and customers through John Deere Connected Support. The technology in the Connected Support suite of tools has empowered a shift from reacting to problems after they occur in the fi eld to a proactive approach of anticipating and preventing machine downtime—increasing

responses submitted by Nick Block, Director, Worldwide Marketing & Sales, John Deere Power Systems

productivity by increasing uptime.

By studying telematic data generated by the machine, we can gain a better understanding of how current systems and technologies are being utilized by our customers in their various applications. This analysis will help improve the next generation of solutions, further enhancing our customers’ experiences.

Regarding how the role of data will grow in the coming years, I believe we’re still in the early stages of the power and applications for telematics solutions. We’re currently piloting our John Deere Connected Support solutions with end-user customers of our OEMs so they can experience the benefi ts of additional uptime.

Advancements in machine uptime and streamlined repairs are made possible by the ability to connect more machines. In the coming years, the importance of identifying trends within fl eetwide machines (even around the world) will play a major role in how the use of IoT will progress. More data equates to machines being optimized for their applications and increased productivity and uptime.

How do you see connectivity and machine learning changing the vehicle landscape in the next decade?

In our Smart Industrial strategy, we also see an even more prominent role for technology as we move forward. Technology will ultimately enable these machines to be more connected and more productive.

The key in driving long-term insight and change is in the data collected, both in breadth and depth. |