3A group teaming up with AEF

3A, the cross-manufacturer autonomy group for agricultural technology, has generated a growing interest in highly automated and autonomous agricultural machines in recent months.

During Agritechnica 2023, the 3A partners AgXeed, Amazone and CLAAS invited more than 30 other companies in the ag machinery sector to discuss the need for greater standardisation across the industry. The 3A group subsequently decided that the AEF, as the platform for international standardisation, was best placed to deal with the tasks that lay ahead.

Since May 2024, the new AEF working group in collaboration with AgXeed, Amazone and CLAAS, and other manufacturers has been actively driving forward standardisation together with existing AEF working groups. Since experience suggests that this process may take some considerable time, a key task in the meantime will be pushed ahead with the practical implementation and further development of the 3A protocol for communication between tractors and implements.

AEF has done an excellent job of standardising numerous interfaces and protocols in recent years, including ISOBUS, Precision Farming and electrification.

“To expedite the implementation of the 3A goals, it therefore makes sense to capitalise on this experience and strengthen the AEF network for reviewing standardised interfaces in the fields of automation and autonomy,” explains Dr Martin von Hoyningen-Huene from CLAAS, Executive Vice President BU Tractors & Implements.

As a result, there are no plans to extend the number of partners in 3A. “3A will continue to exist as a partnership for the joint development of highly automated and autonomous solutions”, Dr Rainer Resch, CTO of Amazone explains.

“We will continue to explain the 3A application protocol to interested companies in order to establish a uniform level of knowledge about technological advances and standardisation within the AEF”,  Lars Schmitz, CTO of AgXeed concludes.