What is ISOBUS?

ISOBUS is an international standard that insures compatibility and connectivity between displays, tractors, and implements — regardless of brand. ISOBUS allows for greater flexibility in automating your farming operations. ISOBUS automation capabilities can be broken down into three classes:

ISOBUS Class 3

ISOBUS Class 3: Incorporates global positioning inputs, two-way communications and two-way controls between tractor and implement, facilitated by an ISOBUS-compliant display. This allows for both implement automation and for the implement to control certain tractor functions such as ground speed.

Example: Let the baler control the tractor with Feedrate Control on select Case IH large square balers

Case IH Class 3 Offerings
Optum™ series tractors
Puma^® series tractors
Maxxum^® series tractors
LB5 series large square balers
RB5 series round balers

ISOBUS Past, Present and Future

As farming technology expanded, lack of compatibility among platforms, equipment and implements became problematic. Every piece of equipment required its own proprietary display.

Agricultural equipment manufacturers around the world came together under the International Standards Organization (ISO) and agreed on ISOBUS as the universal protocol for electronic communication among implements, tractors and computers

In order to minimize the room for interpretation of ISOBUS standards, The Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation (AEF) develops guidelines which add to the ISO standard and thus allow for precise definitions of ISOBUS functionalities. The AEF offers testing and certification of ISOBUS products

Ultimately, the goal is plug-and-play capability for every combination through standardized ISOBUS components. That means one ISOBUS display, such as the Case IH AFS Pro 700 display, in the tractor or sprayer controls any implement or application.

ISOBUS Advantages

ISOBUS universal protocol brings several advantages to agriculture:

Simplification. Your Advanced Farming Systems (AFS) Pro 700 display interacts with multiple implements and machines, regardless of manufacturer.
User-friendly. ISOBUS standardizes control settings, reduces downtime and minimizes installation and interface issues.
Easy connections. The standardized, nine-pin plug makes it easy to connect different components.
Automation. Implements can control the tractor for increased efficiency and reduced operator fatigue.
Less cab clutter. A single display manages multiple implements and tasks, creating improved visibility for the operator.
Increased efficiency. Easy data exchange from the display, produces flawless precision farming documentation.

The ISOBUS System — Equipment and Functionalities

Functionalities

A modern ISOBUS system consists of tractor, terminal and implement. ISOBUS improves performance through standard functionalities as defined by the AEF.

An ISOBUS functionality is like a separate module on the ISOBUS. One or more functionalities can be bundled together and then interconnect with other products that contain additional functionalities. Only functionalities supported by all components involved are available for a true plug-and-play experience.

Functionality examples include:

Universal (virtual) Terminal- The capability of operating an implement with any terminal and/or using one terminal for operating different implements
Auxiliary Control The equipment allows for additional control elements, such as a joystick
Task Controller- Allows for GPS based control of implements

Equipment
Equipment requirements — Functionality depends on tractor-implement combination

Implement and tractor must meet configuration requirements
- Implements must be fitted with ISOBUS electronics and software
- Tractors require specific transmission types, depending on model and desired level of ISOBUS functionality
Choose the appropriate display for your desired ISOBUS functionality
Unlock codes — available from the Case IH Partstore — allow ISOBUS Class 3 automation

ISOBUS Virtual/Universal Terminal

Standardization

ISOBUS technology standardizes the user interface across displays — even those from different manufacturers. Each display is consistent in how the operator enters numbers, keys in text, selects from lists and interacts with the system.
This has the added benefit of reducing training. You can train on one piece of equipment and trust that you will encounter the same interface, whether planting, spraying or harvesting.
Compatibility

The implement loads the graphic user interface, also referred to as virtual implement (VI), into the VT. Once the VI has been loaded into the display, it is saved in the display’s internal memory. When the display detects the same implement again — after shutdown or disconnection, for example — the display automatically loads the VI out of internal memory and displays it.
That means there’s now one place for the user to make settings, get diagnostic information, set controls, etc.
The VT also helps put new technology, components and features into producers’ hands quicker — there’s no need to develop a separate device for each implement.
AFS Pro 700 Display

Consistency, compatibility, standardization. These are among the greatest benefits ISOBUS technology can bring to your farming operation. The powerful AFS Pro 700 display brings together all the controls and data features in a single virtual terminal (VT) display. This display complies with the ISO 11783 specification, allowing it to display data to the user and receive input from the user, regardless of equipment manufacturer.

AFS ISOBUS Task Controller

AFS ISOBUS Task Controller can be used to control any ISOBUS-compliant implement using the AFS Pro 700 display. Task Controller allows for automated section control, variable rate application, mapping and more on compatible implements, from planters and seeders to sprayers and combines.

Automatic section control uses mapping to prevent over- or underapplication of fertilizer, pesticides and other inputs.
Variable rate technology allows prescription application of inputs.
Variety tracking lets you track and map up to 30 seed varieties per field during planting. The technology matches seed varieties with yield and moisture data to help you accurately analyze variety performance.
As-applied mapping records exactly what you’re applying and generates a map for future analysis.

Next Steps

All AFS Products

See all or our ISOBUS compatible AFS product offerings and choose the solutions that are right for your operation.

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Automation

See how Case IH is defining new categories of autonomy and automation in agriculture field applications

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AFS Certified Dealer

Case IH AFS Certified Dealers have a trained AFS sales specialist on staff to help you optimize your farm. Find a dealer near you.

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ISOBUS

Bringing Greater Flexibility to Precision Farming

What is ISOBUS?

ISOBUS Class 1

ISOBUS Class 2

ISOBUS Class 3

ISOBUS Past, Present and Future

ISOBUS Advantages

The ISOBUS System — Equipment and Functionalities

ISOBUS Virtual/Universal Terminal

Standardization

Compatibility

AFS Pro 700 Display

AFS ISOBUS Task Controller

Next Steps

All AFS Products

Automation

AFS Certified Dealer

ISOBUS

​Bringing Greater Flexibility to Precision Farming

What is ISOBUS?

ISOBUS Class 1

ISOBUS Class 2

ISOBUS Class 3

ISOBUS Past, Present and Future

ISOBUS Advantages

The ISOBUS System — Equipment and Functionalities

ISOBUS Virtual/Universal Terminal

Standardization

Compatibility

AFS Pro 700 Display

AFS ISOBUS Task Controller

Next Steps

All AFS Products

Automation

AFS Certified Dealer

Bringing Greater Flexibility to Precision Farming