Technical Innovation Contest

Technical Evolution 2026

ALPHA ZERO

Integrated axle suspension system

What is innovative: the system features self-lubricating components, silent blocks, surface coatings and protective seals to limit the ingress of dust, water, mud and aggressive agents.The objective is to preserve the functionality of moving parts over time without lubrication points. It also features optimized suspension support, designed to better integrate hydraulic cylinders for tipping trailers.

Foreseen advantages: improved vehicle stability, wear resistance, and overall system reliability. Reduced maintenance costs in terms of man-hours for lubrication. Reduced use of lubricants with lower risk of substance dispersion into the environment.

20 - B/32

EROICO

Unmanned aerial spray system

What is innovative: this system is specifically optimized for targeted, precision agrochemicals treatments in row cropping systems, such as vertical shoot-position trellised vineyards, by shifting from traditional general purpose agricultural drones broadcast spraying to an overhead one-way band flight mode directly aligned above the vine rows.

Foreseen advantages: compared to common aerial spray systems, this solution avoids that the plant protection produtct is deposited on the ground rather than on the canopy of the row-cropping system.

37 - B/50

AGRIEURO POINT showcase and e-commerce websites

Software for the generation of two websites for each dealer of gardening machinery

What is innovative: the approach to the business model. To enable small dealers to reach also online customers, a software automatically generates two websites. The first one is an online brochure specific for the characteristics of the local dealer. The second one is an e-shop site, replicating the structure and the product portfolio of a bigger company specialized in e-commerce, with which there's a mutual agreement.

Foreseen advantages: better exploitation of the market opportunities.

34 - F/9

TALON

Hybrid radio-controlled mowing robot

What is innovative: the product introduces three main innovative technical aspects: an active mass balancing system, a hybrid energy architecture with range extender function, and a compact zero-turn geometry with low ground impact.

Foreseen advantages: improved safety, productivity, energy efficiency and ground preservation.

33 - C/6bis

Graft AUTONOMY UNIT

Plug-and-play, turnkey smart operating system designed to transform drive-by-wire agricultural vehicles into autonomous robots

What is innovative: first plug-and-play solution for OEMs to make their rovers autonomous. In addition, it is able to handle the transitions between outdoor (GNSS-driven) and indoor or covered environments (LiDAR-driven) within a single architectural framework. This setup enables smooth hybrid navigation across diverse environments, from open fields to agrivoltaic parks and greenhouses.

Foreseen advantages: automation.

32 - B/14

JOG-DIAL

Control device designed for off-highway applications with central rotary encoder with push-button functionality and six configurable silicone buttons

What is innovative: unlike a conventional jog-dial or keypad, the device is not limited to generating its own commands; it can acquire signals from up to six external fingertips and transmit their status over the vehicle’s CAN network.

Foreseen advantages: possibility to create a cleaner, more efficient, and easily scalable in-cab control architecture.

33 - B/12
18 - B/6

Maverick

Self cleaning screen filter for landscape irrigation

What is innovative: the key components — including the piston, flushing chamber, turbine, and flow pattern — operate within a shared volume rather than as serial assemblies.

Foreseen advantages: reduction in system height of approximately two thirds less than conventional automatic solutions, to fit confined spaces typical of landscape irrigation.

22 - B/27

ALLPRO

Battery to power different tools

What is innovative: the use of the tabless technology for the battery cells. In traditional cells, the tabs are the pathways used by the current to enter and to exit the cell. They are discrete and localized, determining an increase of internal resistance and so of temperature. In tabless cells, the current collection is not localized, but distributed along a wider surface.

Foreseen advantages: better performances of the battery especially in cycles of rapid charging/discharging, less overheating.

34 - D/10

New bale bundler

Bundler for small square bales

What is innovative: the machine has been completely redesigned to achieve a production capacity of over 2,000 bales per hour, while common current solutions achieve around half this value.

Foreseen advantages: increased productivity.

30 - C/5

Intelligent inter-row system

Machine designed to operate in the area between plants in an orchard or vineyard

What is innovative: the machine features a probe equipped with sensors for plant position detection and dynamic control of the working tools during inter-row operations. The machine is able to distinguish cultivated plants from weeds, adapting the behavior of the tools to perform targeted interventions. It also features an automatic self-leveling system.

Foreseen advantages: increased productivity and operator's comfort.

26 - A/11

Hydraulic coupling device with oil return system

Hydraulic coupling device with oil return system

What is innovative: since 2024, the system achieved similar performances in terms of recovered fluid compared to flat couplings, but retining the standard male-female design thus favoring use with existing implements fleet. Now, in addition, it does not rely on external recovery tanks and associated connecting pipes, which must be drained periodically. It is also available as retrofit kit for existing connections.

Foreseen advantages: reduced environmental impact.

30 - A/1

Case IH Optum – Advanced Vehicle Suspension

Integrated improved suspension system for cab and front axle

What is innovative: the front axle is fitted with independent double-wishbone suspensions, while the cab suspension has an additional element to reduce lateral displacement. Sensors continuously monitor cab and vehicle dynamics. The control system automatically regulates all the suspensions.

Foreseen advantages: increased operator's safety and comfort.

29 - A/5

Big Brain

Variable rate irrigation system for hose reels

What is innovative: the system receives data from satellites, soil sensors and weather stations, and integrates this with the machine’s actual hydraulic parameters such as nozzle diameter and instantaneous pressure, as measured by the pressure transducer. The data is processed locally by the Big Brain Module, which makes autonomous decisions regarding the sprinkler’s rotation speed, the spray angle and the hose rewind speed, distributing water according to actual crop requirements.

Foreseen advantages: improved water management.

21 - B/40

Jaltest ICM Spreader

ISOBUS-based retrofit control system designed to upgrade mounted fertilizer spreaders with precision farming capabilities

What is innovative: it integrates ISOBUS operation, proportional dosage control according to forward speed, weighing-based application management, automatic section control, prescription-map-based variable rate application, sensor monitoring and actuator management into an existing spreader.

Foreseen advantages: digital agriculture brought to existing basic spreaders.

37 - C/19

Diablo Semi-Mounted Plough with ISOBUS 1 Active

Trailed six-furrow in-furrow/on-land plough

What is innovative: the working depth is obtained from the prescription map created on the farm via FMIS, and the plow automatically adjusts the depth expressed in the map: in ISOBUS terms, it realizes the Task GEO. Conventional solutions georeference the machine; this one instead georeferences the soil and adapts the machine accordingly.

Foreseen advantages: working depth becomes a georeferenced variable rate parameter. It is defined upstream by the agronomist during the planning phase, executed autonomously by the implement via a standard and AEF-certified ISOBUS function, and returned to the company information system as verifiable data.

26 - A/44

TWIIST: Next-generation multivariable position sensor

Contactless linear sensor for monitoring moving parts and actuators

What is innovative: since 2024, the sensor is able to measure the linear displacement by the contactless interaction between a moving magnetic cursor and a helically shaped magnetic element sealed inside its body; this solution is unique on the market. It also measures the temperature and it integrates an inertial measurement unit. This provides full positioning in space. Now, its design has been adapted to the agricultural applications by adding protective shieldings, using the SAE J1939 communication language and featuring a DT04-4P-compatible output connector.

Foreseen advantages: simpler and more reliable design solution for OEMs to determine position in space.

18 - C/8

Weighing system for agricultural products on a self-propelled machine

Apparatus for weighing agricultural products while in transit on the internal conveyors of a harvester

What is innovative: traditional weighing systems rely on sensors located on a single roll among those supporting the conveyor. The measured values are usually not so accurate. In this solution, instead, the weighing device supports the entire conveyor.

Foreseen advantages: increased accuracy in determining the weight of products in transit on the support surface of the harvesting machine.

30 - C/7

APEX

Trailed seed drill for direct and minimum-tillage in-line sowing

What is innovative: the seeder features a system designed to keep constant the force exerted on the ground by the seeding element, by means of an electro-hydraulic system controlled from the cab, and to follow the terrain profile. It also features a narrow seed boot design and an optimized closing wheel.

Foreseen advantages: minimized variations in seeding depth, increased efficacy in presence of cover crops, reduced soil compaction and disturbance.

14 - A/4

EKOFIBER

screen filter designed for the treatment of surface water

What is innovative: conventional automatic screen filters are generally manufactured using carbon-steel bodies protected by internal and external coatings or, for more demanding applications, stainless-steel bodies. This solution instead is manufactured entirely from an engineered Fibreglass Reinforced Polyester (FRP) composite specifically developed for pressure equipment, so that chemical resistance, structural performance and environmental durability are integrated within the composite design itself.

Foreseen advantages: increased service life, up to twice or more, compared with traditional metallic design.

21 - B/47

iQblue Machine Connect

Software virtually combining multiple Lemken ISOBUS machines in such a way that they behave like a single machine for the user

What is innovative: the solution itself, which was not available before. With current solutions, when multiple ISOBUS implements are used on the same tractor, even if fitted with Universal Terminal, each implement would have its own interface. This could be confusing and potentially limiting.

Foreseen advantages: increased productivity and operator's comfort.

16 - B/7

M-ELI 1P-S-3,2-T0-FG-N

Helical gear hydraulic pump/motor

What is innovative: the helical gears have been redesigned to allow full reversibility, of both flow and torque.

Foreseen advantages: it combines the advantages of the helical gear, such as reduced pressure ripple, vibration and noise, with those of a fully reversible pump/motor, in particular the flexibility in the design of the system in which is fitted.

18 - C/9

SMART-FORCE Adaptive depth planting system

Adaptive depth planting system for a precision seeder

What is innovative: instead or requiring force sensors on the seeding unit’s support wheels and depth sensors to measure the seed placement depth, this solution relies only on the depth sensor to control both the furrow opener and the cylinder to apply the ground force.

Foreseen advantages: the solution reduces the number of components required by existing downforce control systems, providing the advantages of higher reliability and lower overall cost.

26 - A/15

Control method for agricultural or industrial operating machine

System for the automatic recognition of an equipment on a multi-purpose machine and for the automatic setting of the operational parameters of the combination

What is innovative: the accessory-mounted RFID device stores not only an identification code, but also a complete technical profile including hydraulic requirements, operating parameters, torque limits, and safety data. The system also records lifecycle data directly on the RFID memory associated with the accessory, enabling for example precise maintenance interventions and records.

Foreseen advantages: increased safety, productivity and traceability.

16 - A/5

POWERPILOT

Hydraulic power unit

What is innovative: it automatically adapts the supplied flow to the actual requirements of each application through the combined use of hydraulic, electronic, and control software technologies. This is achieved by proportional valves, sensors and an in-house electronic control unit, eliminating a significant part of the complexity and cost associated with conventional variable-flow hydraulic systems.

Foreseen advantages: a single hydraulic power unit to be used with different agricultural machines, avoiding the draw-backs of common variable-flow systems; in addition, it reduces energy consumption.

26 - A/18

MultiOne ADS – Attachment Detection System

Adaptive electro-hydraulic control system

What is innovative: the system, designed for a multi-purpose machine, is based on the identification of attachments through a reader installed on the machine and a tag mounted on the attachment. An electronic control unit detects the attachment and regulates the hydraulic flow to the attachment and for the extension of the boom by means of a valve group.

Foreseen advantages: reduced possibility of damage to the attachments, increased operator's comfort.

36 - A/14

SANKA

Fully electric, autonomous tracked tool carrier designed for perennial crops

What is innovative: unlike other similar solutions, this is a zero-emission architecture capable of powering and carrying traditional, non-proprietary implements. In addition, it features a dynamic mobile mass system to ensure appropriate traction also when coupled to the most challenging implements.

Foreseen advantages: possibility to use existing implements fleet with a zero-emissions tool carrier.

32 - A/16

Mega PULSAR™

Orchard sprinkler-based cooling system with pulsating water distribution

What is innovative: pulsating flow mechanism for the optimization of droplet distribution, wide-spacing installation concept to achieve full coverage with fewer emitters, pressure-compensated design for uniform water distribution.

Foreseen advantages: overcome the usual trade-off between coverage, cost, and water efficiency which is typical of conventional solutions like dense micro-sprinkler systems or high-flow sprinklers.

21 - A/56

New Holland Combine Smart Traction Control

System to distribute torque between front and rear axles of a combine harvester

What is innovative: unlike conventional 4WD systems, this system dynamically adjusts torque distribution between front and rear axles using real-time data with multiple inputs. These include slope inclination, grain and fuel tank levels, and gear selection.

Foreseen advantages: reduced risk of the combine getting stuck in mud, increased operator's comfort.

29 - A/5

Mechanical vineyard-mounted tying machine REVOLUTION

Mechanical vine-tying machine for wheeled and tracked tractors

What is innovative: the machine works with metallic fastening rings, automatically shaped from continuous galvanized iron wire, taken from a 1,000-meter coil loaded directly onto the machine.

Foreseen advantages: unlike other machines already on the market, the use of wire reduces costs and machine downtime and the need for manual replenishment of consumables such as plastic staples during use.

29 - D/14

Horizon 6, Machine Control Software

Agricultural machine control software

What is innovative: customizable layout configurations, with API-driven architecture and predefined configuration building blocks. Possibility to save different user profiles. Based on ISOBUS language. It allows the user interface to scale past the console onto consumer mobile devices.

Foreseen advantages: for the user, increased productivity in terms of less time for learning phase, setup, interaction with the machine during operation. Cost reductions for OEM, in terms of less need of software code modifications to introduce customizations in rigid architectures.

37 - B/48

Robust Joystick JE

Joystick for mobile off-highway machinery

What is innovative: the joystick features many state-of-the-art solutions, such as integrated presence detection system capable of detecting the operator’s hand across the entire handle surface, vibrotactile feedback, grip heating, play-free centering mechanism, IP6K9K sealing, CAN-configurable RGB illumination, and thumb tip controls manufactured using Metal Injection Moulding (MIM) technology.

Foreseen advantages: increase in operator's safety and comfort.

18 - B/16

Valley Machine Diagnostics

Monitoring and diagnostic system for center pivot and linear irrigation machines

What is innovative: the solution combines mechanical machine health, irrigation performance and digital connectivity in one integrated diagnostic platform. It is able to not only indicate that the pivot has stopped or generated an alarm; it also identifies the nature and location of the issue, such as tower alignment, tyre pressure, drive train runtime, motor/gearbox status or water pressure/water application.

Foreseen advantages: in case of fault, the operator receives diagnostic information on the type and position of the issue.

22 - A/13

ROVER 500M

Hybrid autonomous agricultural rover

What is innovative: it features dedicated solutions to allow reliable operativity at a reasonable cost on very steep slopes, such as a tilting system for the engine/generator to ensure adequate lubrication in all conditions, and a suction device for the fuel that is automatically oriented by gravity towards the point of the tank which is the lowest at that moment.

Foreseen advantages: increased operator's safety in steep slopes, keeping costs in check.

32 - B/12

TUZ

Flail mower for vineyards, with an internal deflector

What is innovative: the internal deflector allows to modify the shape of the internal chamber and to operate on grass as well as on other vegetative residues. It can be hydraulically actuated from the cab. In addition, the mower can be fitted with collection bars for pruning residues and branches.

Foreseen advantages: increased operational flexibility and productivity.

33 - C/12

MUZZI VigilaSense

System for the real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance of the working elements of soil-working machines

What is innovative: it correlates changes in vibration patterns with the physical degradation of the mechanical components in direct contact with the soil, for both active and passive machines. The system runs a proprietary algorithm that processes the continuous stream of sensor data. It calculates the current wear percentage and predicts the remaining hours of optimal performance. Foreseen advantages: predictive maintenance.

Foreseen advantages: predictive maintenance.

20 - C/18

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