The Nedap Velos 2020.2 software version contains new and improved functionalities that provide new solutions, add valuable options to existing solutions and further increase the ease of use of Velos.

User management

  • Two new roles with corresponding permissions have been added: The User role provides insight into heat and health information and permission to enter or change specific data. The Demo view role only provides insight into heat and health information and does not provide permission to change or enter data, so this remains protected. Both roles are available for new systems to be installed.
  • The Group alerts Email notification has been added within the Health and management category. You can now set whether and when this Email notification should be sent to which user(s).

Heat Detection insights

Further improvements have been made within the Heat Detection activity timeline overview. They provide more extensive insight into the fertility and reproduction status of cows, allowing for even more informed decisions.

  • A 70-day overview has been added to the activity timeline that is displayed for each cow. When displaying this overview, you can now switch between the lactation or the 70-day overview.
  • Vertical bars have been added to the activity timeline, which provide information about the degree of deviation in activity.

Cow Locating

A new option for finding unknown animals and various improvements ensure that Nedap Cow Locating adds even more value to dairy operations.

  • Unknown animals can now be displayed on the barn map using Cow Locating, making it quick and easy to find and identify those cows.
  • Various technical improvements have been made within Cow Locating to make the solution even faster and more robust.

Sorting & Routing

The 2-3-way sorting and routing software has been enhanced with adjustable options, increasing accuracy of configurations without sensors and making them more flexible and easier to apply. They also ensure that a single behavior component for sorting and routing configurations can now be used for both robotic and conventional milking installations.

The new ‘Cow Detect sensor present’ option is now available within the behavior component settings in Velos. With this checkbox option you can set whether the configuration is equipped with sensors or not.

The option is checked by default to be compatible with already installed sorting and routing systems, since input from sorting and routing systems without sensors was previously “bridged” to simulate a sensor. This is no longer necessary in the new situation and new configurations. To ensure an accurate process flow of the sorting and routing solution without sensors, the option must be unchecked.

Note: the use of sensors to detect cows is only necessary if the sorting gate has to be returned to its default position when the cow has left the sorter to her separation location. Consider, for example, the case of a small separation area where the cow could return to the sorting lane.

Also the Cow caching time is a new option within the adjustble settings. This is the time a cow is kept in memory when she returns to the antenna again. Especially important when cows must be separated once. With this option, configurations can be tailored even better to the specific needs of a particular dairy farm.

Identification

Per Point ID: capacity increased to 200 positions

The maximum number of positions for the Per Point ID component has been increased to 200. This makes the solution further scalable and suitable for large (rotary) milking parlours. No hardware change is necessary to realize this increased number of positions.

Rotory ID: overhead ID option added

The behavior component Overhead ID has been added for the Rotory ID. Animals with ear tags can therefore be identified and positioned on the platform by means of an overhead antenna. This is a further improvement, ensuring faster and more accurate ear tag identification.

A special algorithm is used to assign the correct stall number to the cow. This method differs from the one used for entrance ID and can also be used, for example, for pass-by antennas on rotory milking parlours.

New: ID-Plus functions for Vpack-B types

With the launch of the Vpack-B types, the new ID functions Antenna Power Boost and Notch Filter are introduced. Together with Hdx ISO Identification, they form the ID-Plus functions.

Antenna Power Boost

This function creates extra antenna power on Vpack-B types like the VP1001-B, VP1006-B and VP1801-B. By default, these Vpacks are set to an optimal power mode for common situations. The power boost option provides extra power for specific situations where it is required.

Notch Filter

This function filters out the signal from certain transmitters in Europe that can disturb the proper functioning of ID technology.

Hdx ISO Identification

ISO identification function using the HDX (half duplex) protocol.

ID-Plus license

The availability of these ID-Plus functions is controlled by the Vpu software. To unlock the functions and make them available on Vpack-B’s, the ID-Plus license on the Vpu is required.

Check ID-Plus function availability

To check if an ID-plus option is available on the Vpack, go to the Settings > Devices-Identification page.

If the function is not available it will be visible as “grayed out”:

If the function is available, the checkbox is visible and can be disabled (unchecked) or enabled (checked).

Vpacks with pre-installed ID-Plus functions

For specific circumstances, there are Vpacks available on which the ID-Plus functions are pre-installed. In that case, no license is required. Adjusted conditions apply to these Vpacks and they must be ordered specifically.

Compatibility of Vpack-B types

Vpack-B types are fully backwards compatible with previous Velos software versions. The ID-Plus functions are only available when using software version 2020.2 or newer.

Velos 2020.2

Release notes

Download an overview of the latest improvements released in the 2020.2 version

Download overview