In today's ever-evolving agricultural landscape, farmers are often looking for ways to get more yields from less inputs when facing a myriad of challenges from climate variability to market unpredictability. In the quest for greater productivity, profitability, and sustainability, many growers are turning to innovative solutions, with one standout technology leading the way: tractor auto steer systems.
The practice of using autosteering systems on tractors remains strong and ongoing. By automatically controlling the steering through hydraulic or electric drive, such systems allow operators to only turn on or off the auto steering at the right time when they need to take control into their own hands. In this blog, we will delve into the major challenges faced by these systems and explore how FJD's innovative solutions effectively address them.
Terrain: Performance Touchstone From the Ground
The process of optimizing the trajectories of soil cultivation and forage harvesting equipment across the field should, as much as possible, take into account and adapt to the features of the field relief.
Complex terrain and steep slopes in agricultural areas can pose significant challenges for auto steer systems, especially in terms of climbing and turning capabilities. When working on challenging farmlands, it is physically taxing for operators to remain focused when they manually drive on agricultural machines, which can be prone to errors and time-consuming redos. By the end of the day, they will find the long-time repeated activities more mentally stressful than expected.
Whether you're a believer in the electric or hydraulic motor, the FJD solutions comprehensively cover your needs in handling uneven lands, with the FJD AT2 Auto Steer System for electric motor control and FJD AH2 Hydraulic Autosteering Kit for steering oil regulation. Generally, these two autosteering systems can be used for the same tasks, helping vehicles maintain operational accuracy while driving on sloping or rough terrain.
In theory, the AT2 offers a terrain compensation feature that calculates the difference between the GPS antenna's location and the actual desired position of the vehicle's center point on the ground. Whereas the AH2 enhances steering stability on challenging terrains by keeping the steering wheel stationary through precise oil control. Both systems help minimize the adverse effects of changing topography on the system's performance.
By using these systems, farmers can enjoy a productivity rise by 20-40% due to the accuracy of passing rows and reducing operator fatigue, saving a large sum on fuel and other resources. In addition, the systems allow them to work at night and in poor visibility conditions during tight work window, bringing greater efficiency to one of the most important times of the year. Another benefit is the significant reduction in overlapping rows and missed spots, which translates to better crop performance and yield.
Satellite Signals: Precise Control in Every Pass
Tractor auto steer systems work based on satellite signals received from a control station connected to a GNSS or RTK receiver. They typically rely on stable signal coverage for precise positioning and navigation across vast croplands, where human's sense of direction may sometimes go wrong. Without satellites, precision farming will be impossible in the modern agriculture era.
Just imagine how precise autosteering systems can be? The FJD AT2 and AH2 claim 2.5-centimeter accuracy, or within less than 1 inch, arguably an ideal precision that farmers strive for. With that precision from pass to pass, farmers find it effortless to maintain constant and consistent accuracy in controlling their units, leading to a boost in confidence and productivity that will in turn encourage them to believe in technology investment.
In addition to the AT2 and AH2 autosteering systems, FJD also has an array of standalone base stations to solve satellite signal interference in some remote or heavily obstructed areas. Among these stations, the FJD N20 Fixed High Power GNSS Station offers exceptional anti-interference capabilities, delivering rapid centimeter-level positioning accuracy even in challenging environments.
Multi-Equipment Synergy: Working in Unison Even Miles Away
In reality, large modern farms usually have a mixed fleet of vehicles from multiple manufacturers, and an undeniable fact is that those devices often need to work in tandem with each other. This creates challenges with having to manage multiple equipment simultaneously for maximized efficiency. In this synergy, it is essential for tractor auto steer systems to offer smooth data sharing and transfer across equipment of different brands.
The ISOBUS addresses this issue by ensuring seamless communication and coordination between different pieces of equipment even when they are working in separate plots miles away. Through ISOBUS compliance, it is possible to achieve variable rate control and adjustments for implements like seeders and sprayers, which greatly improves production efficiency and resource utilization.
The integration of ISOBUS technology, particularly in conjunction with top-tier solutions such as auto steering systems on tractors, signifies a pivotal advancement in the agriculture sector. As the ISOBUS standard gains traction, collaborative working among different machinery will become an ever-present reality in smart farming practices.
Tractor auto steer system isn't a tech gimmick; it's a well-thought-out solution to address real-world challenges in agricultural operations. Like any other innovation, such autosteering system is not without its challenges. With FJD's actional solutions, these systems can function optimally in a wide range of farming conditions. By seamlessly incorporating technology into every facet of farming activities, FJD stands as a pioneering force in helping farmers reap the benefits of precision agriculture.
Reference:
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/981/3/032006/meta