Enhancing Agricultural Equipment Reliability with Embedded Diagnostic Tools

Agricultural equipment manufacturers are increasingly integrating embedded software and diagnostic capabilities to improve machine reliability, maintenance efficiency and field performance. A leading European manufacturer of agricultural machinery partnered with T&S to develop and maintain a diagnostic software platform dedicated to tractor systems, combining embedded software engineering, validation and data-analysis capabilities to improve defect detection and software reliability across connected equipment, leveraging model-based engineering.

Client context

The client was developing diagnostic tools to monitor, validate and maintain tractor systems across multiple platforms. As embedded systems grew more complex, the organisation needed to strengthen its diagnostic software capabilities while ensuring compliance with internal development standards and product planning, and to improve defect anticipation and validation efficiency through better data analysis and structured testing.

Business challenges

• Maintain and evolve a diagnostic platform supporting software validation, defect detection and release management across tractor systems
• Balance software quality, development efficiency and operational reliability in a complex industrial environment
• Improve early defect detection through data analysis
• Ensure consistency between software releases, validation activities and field requirements

The T&S solution

T&S supported the client through a comprehensive software development and validation approach focused on embedded diagnostics and reliability. The teams contributed to software development planning and implemented new functionalities in line with the client's internal engineering standards, and managed validation activities on both test benches and tractor platforms to verify software behaviour under operational conditions, handling validation reports and release management. To improve quality and anticipate defects, T&S leveraged MATLAB-based data analysis to identify anomalies and support proactive diagnostics, and carried out maintenance and continuous improvement on already-deployed diagnostic tools.

Technologies & expertise

• MATLAB / Simulink
• Grade-X
• MBSE methodologies
• Embedded diagnostic platforms

Results & business value

• Development and continuous improvement of embedded diagnostic tools supporting tractor reliability and maintenance
• Improved software quality and operational consistency through reinforced validation and defect detection
• Earlier anomaly detection and more efficient troubleshooting via data-analysis methodologies
• Stronger reliability and maintainability across agricultural equipment platforms

Conclusion

The project highlights T&S's expertise in embedded software engineering, diagnostics and validation for industrial equipment, reflecting the growing role of embedded intelligence and diagnostics in connected farming equipment.