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Satellite Driven Farming Equipment

Posted by michael on from the judgement-day-that-much-closer dept.

ravenousbugblatter writes "An article at CNN discusses how Australian scientists are using GPS to automatically drive tractors and other farming equipment on predetermined tracks. The technology is encouraged because it can prevent water loss associated with the repeated compaction of soil from heavy farming equipment."

10 of 173 comments (clear)

  1. Collision Detection by rf0 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This seems very cool and everything but I wonder how "automatic" these are and do they have any collision detection. I can't help but picture the tractor going along, hitting a kangeroo and then all hell break loose. Never underestimate the unexpected

    Rus

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    Cheap UK and US VPS
    1. Re:Collision Detection by vissy · · Score: 3, Interesting

      The driver is still required to turn the tractor at the end of each run. After this the driver hits the engage button and the system takes over to steer the tractor to about 2cm accuracy. The driver is responsible for collision detection.

      In the end the driver has reduced fatigue due to not having to make small steering corrections along a run and he can focus more on what his implement at the back is doing, i.e. is it the right height etc.

      As the article says, there are huge benifits to always driving on the same track. In addition to what the article says, the piece of dirt that you are driving along does get compacted because you always drive down the same piece, this means that it becomes more road-like which significantly reduces diesel usage and tracktor wear and tear. This makes the technology even more enviromentally friendly.

  2. until sadam acts up again... by edrugtrader · · Score: 2, Interesting

    during the war, my acura GPS would be off by a 1/5th of a mile or so... watch out for tractors gone wild in your backyard.

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  3. Not exactly new... by leshert · · Score: 2, Interesting

    My former boss worked on something like this years ago, although if I recall correctly, it was based on dead reckoning and computer vision, not GPS.

  4. SA? by outernet · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Hmm, what happens when Gulf War III starts, and the US turns SA back on? (Selective Availability, undetectable errors added to readings). Could be interesting...

    1. Re:SA? by Mr_KnowItAll · · Score: 2, Interesting

      SA introduces an error, but it's not undetectable if you have a reference station in the vicinity. This two-station Differential GPS (DGPS) approach is pretty much essential for any precision work such as earth moving, and these systems are quite common these days.

      The autonomous vehicle technology described in the article is not very interesting compared to something happening stateside, the DARPA Grand Challenge. On March 13th, 2004, vehicles will set out on a race from a point near Los Angeles and head for Las Vegas, completely under autonomous control. They must also carry sufficient intelligence to avoid collisions and obstacles, and they need to move fast! Visit the DARPA Grand Challenge site for more information. This competition is pretty much open to all, and the prize is $1 million. Watch for my team's entry, it will be the one with a plush Tux the Penguin strapped in the driver's seat!

  5. How odd by Nidhogg · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I work for Cat dealer and I was told about this some months ago by our Agriculture Manager. It's already offered in the Challenger MT700 models. In fact there are already quite a few in operation. And oh by the way, John Deere (enemy!), is also offering it in some models.

    Depending on how much you want to spend on these tractors you can have an accuracy down to 8 inches per pass in the field.

    Of course when he told me this all I could think of was Evil Plan #234.

    1. Hack the Omnistar system.
    2. Assume control of all Challenger tractors in Indiana.
    3. Plow under Terre Haute.

    Hey we all have our own little dreams...

  6. Re:advantages of using GPS by Wyatt+Earp · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Aerial photos in the past five years?

    In South Dakota we were getting aerial photos of the farmland 30 years ago.

  7. This isn't that beneficial by icleprechauns · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I honestly can't see how this will help the farm industry in preventing soil corrosion, seeing as how farmers barely run their tractors over the same area twice. Although the labor benefits are obvious.

    You'd think there would be a simpler solution that doesn't implement GPS, kinda like those robot lawn mowers, except smart...

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    I'm a signature virus. Please copy me to your signature so I can replicate.
  8. Yay for GPS.. by Large+Green+Mallard · · Score: 2, Interesting

    No joke, just yesterday, I was standing on the greenwich meridian (a big steel line in the ground in Greenwich England) and my eTrex GPS said that the meridian was about 100 metres away, even after staying in the same spot for about 10 minutes, and it claiming accuracy of 7 metres from 6 satellites.

    As handy as GPS is, I don't entirely trust it :>