BLINK MARINE ENTERS THE ISOBUS COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS
Blink Marine's entry into the world of ISOBUS-certified components highlights the Milan-based company's strong interest in the agricultural machinery sector, a market expected to grow significantly in the coming years, with digital systems playing an increasingly important role. We interviewed Gabriele Stefanini, Blink Marine's Technical Manager, who led the development team for the new PKP-2200-SI ISOBUS.
Can you briefly explain what the ISOBUS protocol is and how it differs from other CAN protocols?
The ISOBUS protocol is an international communication standard (ISO 11783) developed specifically for the agricultural sector. Its primary function is to ensure seamless communication between tractors and agricultural implements from different manufacturers, guaranteeing interoperability and ease of use.
The idea is that farmers can use the same agricultural machine—typically a tractor—and easily connect different implements depending on the day's task, such as a plow, a seeder, or a sprayer. Thanks to the ISOBUS protocol, the end user simply connects the implement, which is then recognized by the onboard system. From there, it's just a matter of assigning the implement’s various functions to the devices onboard—for example, our keypad—and the setup is complete.
What was the main motivation behind the decision to develop an ISOBUS-based keypad? How does this innovation fit into the company’s long-term strategy?
The decision to develop an ISOBUS-based keypad stemmed from the recognition that the agricultural machinery sector represents a market with enormous growth potential, especially on an international scale. In the coming years, we expect a significant increase in demand for advanced agricultural equipment, driven by the need to optimize the efficiency and sustainability of farming operations.
A key aspect of this evolution is the growing adoption of onboard digital systems, which are becoming essential for managing the advanced and often automated functions of modern agricultural vehicles. These systems not only enhance productivity but also provide farmers with valuable data to make informed decisions, reduce resource waste, and improve yields.
Developing an ISOBUS-compatible product enables us to position ourselves as a technological partner of reference in an expanding market, contributing to the digital transformation of agriculture while strengthening our international presence. It’s a strategic choice that looks toward a future where efficiency, sustainability, and innovation are the cornerstones of the agricultural sector.
What market demands or feedback drove this decision?
The features of our keypads—robustness, compactness, flexibility, resistance to weather conditions, IP67 certification—make them ideal for use in work vehicles, including agricultural machinery. Over the years, we’ve gained significant market penetration in these sectors. Tractor and agricultural machinery manufacturers themselves have increasingly requested an ISOBUS-compatible keypad to integrate into their ISOBUS networks.
What were the milestones in developing this new keypad?
The most significant challenge we faced during the development of the ISOBUS keypad was our decision to transform an existing keypad, the PKP-2200-SI, into an ISOBUS-compatible device without making substantial changes to the hardware architecture, while maintaining the same mechanical structure and aesthetics.
This approach posed a major technical challenge because the ISOBUS protocol demands greater hardware resources than other CAN protocols, particularly due to its distributed architecture. In an ISOBUS system, more data and functionality are handled directly by the peripherals, increasing the need for efficient resource management.
Why was the PKP-2200-SI chosen as the first ISOBUS product for Blink Marine?
The decision was based on both the limited number of keys, which simplified electronic development, and the modular nature of the PKP-2200-SI. This modularity allows multiple keypads to be added to the same system, increasing the total number of keys from 4 to 8, 12, or more. With a fully plug-and-play installation, manufacturers can adapt the keypad to their specific needs with maximum flexibility.
Did you collaborate with other partners during development? If so, how did they contribute? Collaboration with some of our agricultural clients, who were already using our CANbus keypads, was crucial in developing the new ISOBUS keypad. These clients not only provided valuable feedback on their needs and technical specifications but also actively contributed to field testing.
Thanks to this collaboration, we were able to dive deep into the functional specifications of the ISOBUS protocol, precisely identifying the priorities and expectations of end users. Additionally, their support during the testing phase allowed us to simulate real-world operating conditions and validate the reliability and performance of the keypad in complex scenarios.
This approach gave us a dual advantage: on the one hand, it ensured that our product was perfectly aligned with the practical needs of the agricultural sector; on the other hand, it allowed us to confidently navigate the ISOBUS certification process, knowing we already had a robust and fully operational device.
Collaboration with clients was not just a technical opportunity but also an important demonstration of our commitment to creating solutions that truly meet market needs. This kind of partnership remains, and will continue to be, a fundamental pillar of our company philosophy.
What are the key features of the new keypad that set it apart from other products on the market? Like all Blink Marine keypads, the PKP-2200-SI ISOBUS features characteristics that the agricultural market has already come to recognize and value in our products. For example, it supports both 12V and 24V battery operation, boasts IP67-IP69K protection ratings, features icons on interchangeable inserts, and offers key lifecycles designed for intensive professional use.
What kind of feedback do you expect from customers after launching this keypad? We’re undeniably optimistic about how the market will receive it. As mentioned, this is a product that our clients in the sector have strongly requested, and many of them were involved in various stages of its development. The feedback we’ve received so far makes us extremely confident in its success.
How do you think this new technology will impact your competitive position in the sector? The ISOBUS protocol allows us to take what we already do well to the next level: providing standard keypads that are highly customizable. This approach lets machinery manufacturers purchase a finished, tested, and functional product that can be tailored to their needs at a fraction of the cost of developing an internal solution.
With the implementation of the ISOBUS protocol, we’re amplifying this concept. The keypad will not only be flexible and easy to use but also seamlessly integrable into the distributed system of an agricultural vehicle as an Auxiliary Control Element certified ISOBUS AUX-N—that is, as an additional control element for the functionalities of the attached implements.
Standardization, flexibility, and simplicity remain our strengths, solidifying our position as a go-to technological partner in the sector.