The Collab Light System: Harvest Problem to Patented Solution
WHAT DOES THE KOOIMA AG COLLAB LIGHT SYSTEM DO?
The Collab® Light System automatically signals the truck driver whether to speed up or slow down based on where the harvester spout is positioned. No radio chatter, no guesswork. Green means speed up. Red means slow down. The cutter operator doesn't have to do a thing.
WHO IS THE COLLAB SYSTEM DESIGNED FOR?
It's designed for forage harvesting operations of any size, but especially those running new or less-experienced truck drivers. The system works equally well at night and in dusty conditions, where cameras and hand signals fall short.
HOW THE LIGHTS WORK
Spout back → lights go green → truck driver speeds up
Spout forward → lights go red → truck driver slows down
Lights are mounted on the spout, fender, and header — wherever the truck driver is most likely to be looking. The system is set up for one side of the forage harvester and handles all color changes automatically from the cab.
KEY BENEFITS
Hands-free operation
Eliminates radio confusion and miscommunication between machines
Outperforms cameras at dusk, night, and in heavy dust
Reduces stress for new or first-year drivers immediately
Lights on spout, fender, and header, which are easy to see from any position
Programmed from the cab. no stopping, no tools needed
THE ORIGIN STORY
The Collab® system started with a common problem the Kooima Ag team kept hearing from farmers: how do you keep a new truck drivers in sync, without fail?
Collin, Lead Engineer of Replacement Parts, took the lead on development. Nick, CEO, provided engineering insight, and Nolan, Field Sales, lined up the first farmers willing to test an unproven prototype. The team defined exactly what the system needed to do, sketched out real-world harvest scenarios, and ordered parts to build a limited first run.
That first version was built entirely from physical circuits and steel components. With Nick and Nolan's help, they installed this prototype onto harvesters and put them through a full test season.
Around early 2023 Collin and Nick filed a patent application. Working with an outside software and electronics company to help work out the kinks, the team developed v2 — an upgrade to a printed circuit board with a fully programmable interface operable right from the cab seat. Cables, light boxes, and mounting assemblies all had to be designed, tested, and sourced, but they had a second batch of test units ready for harvest year two.
After more refinement, v3 arrived. A redesigned control box and updated remote receiver boxes and full production orders began. Now, the Collab Systems help farmers reduce harvest lost by unsynchronized drivers.
Kooima Ag has worked to make the system compatible with as many forage harvester models as possible. Contact your dealer or Kooima Ag directly to confirm fitment for your machine.
No. The lights change color automatically based on spout position. The truck driver simply responds to the color signals — green to speed up, red to slow down. No buttons, no setup, no training required beyond knowing what the colors mean.
It's not designed to replace cameras, but it complements them well — and outperforms them in dusty conditions and at night, when cameras can struggle. Many operations run both.