DDZ develops high-tech farming feedlot system
22 February 2012
News
Local electronics manufacturer, DDZ Technologies, has been working on a computerised system that could be used at farming feedlots throughout the country.
The company’s client, Dastefor, approached it to build up the system, consisting of an industrial computer which is mounted inside the cab of a tractor, and a scale enclosure that is mounted on the feed mixer wagon. It has GPRS features to communicate to a remote server to monitor the exact progress of each feeding tractor unit.
All items need to be integrated into a rugged and waterproof enclosure, which was custom made to fit all the components. Wiring consists of many different parts that need to communicate with each other. Wire harnesses were built up and all components were integrated. The computer on the tractor and scale on the wagon needed to be connected with each other, and a rugged MIL-std connector was used, and cables were inserted into hydraulic hoses for extra strength and protection.
During the course of July 2011, the first prototypes were built up successfully, and got installed at the first feedlot. To date, everything is running smoothly. The computers that were used initially were discontinued, and a new design needed to be done before DDZ started on assembly work again in December 2011 for the next feedlot. These units will be completed before the end of February 2012, and DDZ is looking forward to a number of possible new orders from this customer in the near future.
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