Precision of tractor operations with soil cultivation implements using manual and automatic steering modes

• Published in: Biosystems engineering 2016-05, Vol.145, p.22-28
• Main Authors: Lipiński, Adam J., Markowski, Piotr, Lipiński, Seweryn, Pyra, Paweł
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Automatic steering; Automation; Cultivation; GPS; Navigation; Omissions; Operating precision; Overlaps; Soil (material); Steering; Subscriptions; Tracking; Tractors
• ISSN: 1537-5110; 1537-5129
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2016.02.008

The influence of satellite guidance on the operating precision of a John Deere 7230R tractor with a Väderstad Carrier 350 soil cultivation multi-implement was evaluated. The tractor-implement unit was operated in three steering modes: conventional when the tractor was operated manually and two steering modes, one which relied on satellite navigation with free access to the SF1 correction signal and one using paid subscription for the SF2 correction signal. The automatic steering system consisted of John Deere AutoTrac parallel tracking, StarFire 3000 antenna and GreenStar 3 CommandCenter display. In each mode, operating precision was tested at three travel speeds: 3, 6 and 12 km h−1. The experiment was carried out in 2013, on a farm in the region of Mazowsze, Poland, on a experimental plot with a surface area of 1.5 ha. Operating precision was analysed based on the combined operating width of two adjacent passes. Deviations from the optimal in-field operating routes, overlapped area (overlaps) and missed area (omissions) were determined. •Operating precision of a tractor in three steering modes was evaluated.•Evaluated was the operating precision in manual and automatic steering modes.•Results included the influence of the use of free and paid access to a GPS signal.•In our opinion, the obtained results do not justify the cost of paid access.•Processes demanding higher precision than soil cultivation may justify the cost.