AGRITECHNICA ELECTRONICS
MTA
November 10-16, 2019
107
MTA
Hall 17, Stand B05
A NEW DASHBOARD DESIGNED FOR THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR STREAMLINES
THE USER EXPERIENCE WITH CUSTOMIZABLE PROGRAMS AND APPEARANCE
iVTInternational.com September 2019
With the launch of the new Idea dashboard,
MTA continues to expand its range of o -theshelf
electronic products supplied with basic software
that can then be implemented by the customer
according to its speci c application needs. This can
be done simply and quickly thanks to the MTA Studio
software tool, allowing for an enviable time-to-market.
Designed for the world of agriculture, earthmoving,
and – more generally – for applications that don’t
require a high level of personalization, the company’s
customizable products like Idea meet the needs of
an increasing number of OEMs, as they are available
in a complete range of shapes and sizes with highperformance
devices that are aesthetically attractive
and cost-e ective.
The mechanical parts
Idea can be used as a dashboard or a display, available
in portrait and landscape versions. Its dimensions
(291 x 139 x 45mm) make it a particularly compact
instrument while still boasting the toughness required
by the o -highway heavy-duty use. A Gore-Tex valve
ensures the free circulation of air to prevent the
formation of condensation.
Great attention was paid to the design, choice of
materials and workmanship, not only in the display area
but also in the plastics used on the back, making Idea
a product with a strong visual appeal. To guarantee
excellent performance on the vehicles it was designed
for, Idea has an IP66 protection level, con rming its
o -road roots. It can be powered with 12V and 24V
to meet the needs of any machine.
Focus on visibility
The parameters of the machine or of the equipment
connected to it are displayed on a 7in (17.8cm) TFT
glued to the front glass using an optical bonding
process that completely eliminates the gap between
the screen and the glass cover. This construction reduces
the percentage of re ected incident light, which
translates into excellent visibility in all conditions
that is additionally ensured by the anti- ngerprint
and scratch-resistant mineral glass cover.
To further boost visibility – an aspect that the MTA
electronics team has particularly focused its e orts
on – an ambient light sensor and backlighting of
the screen with dimmable white light were also
ABOVE: The Idea dashboard is available
both in landscape and portrait versions
incorporated. When temperatures are too high, the
dashboard’s brightness is automatically dimmed to
preserve its functionality. On request, the TFT can also
be supplied in a version with a capacitive touch screen.
Operational safety
In order to ensure maximum operational safety, the
TFT is equipped with 18 high-e ciency LED indicators,
14 of which have diagnostic functions. Eight lights have
a redundant control circuit and two lights can be
externally controlled via two digital inputs, thus
isolating them from any malfunction of the dashboard.
The symbols and colors of the lights can also be
customized by the OEM according to the application. On
request, MTA can produce a screen print with the OEM’s
brand. On the side, there are also four rubber buttons
designed to activate features selectable via software by
the OEM, always with a view to maximize customization.
The back of the dashboard houses the main 34-pin
waterproof connector and one video input for possible
connection to an analog camera. There is also a
broad-reach Ethernet connector to link the display
to a digital camera and the dashboard is Bluetooth
low energy compatible to allow viewing information
from specialized apps, like those of navigators.
Idea’s strength is its software that can be customized
by OEMs using the MTA Studio tool. This allows users
to simply and quickly tailor the application to the
machines it will be installed on without the need
for experienced programmers.
The proprietary tool stands out for its exceptional
con gurability, as well as for its programming in C/C++
and functional block diagram (FBD) for the operating
logic. The graphic HMI allows the user to see the
graphics as they will appear at the end of the job, even
while building the application itself. The software also
contains a real-time debugger and a number of libraries
with various available functions that the customer
can choose to integrate depending on application
needs. iVT
By Davide Golinelli, project leader for electronic research
& development at MTA
Dashboard for all
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