Agricultural drone use soars among NZ contractors
Use of agricultural drones by contractors in New Zealand is soaring.
This acts as the link between operator and machine for any adjustments or change of function and will have to be installed in or removed from the tractor each time the implement is changed.
If the user has, say, a baler, sprayer, seed drill or large mower, each will have a box, and very quickly the right side console of the tractor can look like the control panel for an Apollo spacecraft.
To overcome this many manufacturers are introducing more machines with ISOBUS compatible control systems. This will enable the machine to be ‘plug and play’ connected to the tractor, requiring a compatible display terminal. Unfortunately, this type of terminal is largely only available on high-end, high-spec tractors, so a ‘plain Jane’ operator can’t benefit from this technology.
But now appears a neat solution from the Kverneland Group – a virtual terminal called the Isomatch Tellus. Using ISOBUS as the interface between tractor and machine, the unit communicates with any ISOBUS compliant machines and can work with all current GPS systems.
The Tellus allows simultaneous display of two screens, perhaps one showing GPS and area coverage, while the second might show the operation of a multi-row planter. There is also the ability to take signals from up to four cameras, using them typically to watch tank levels, coulter blockages or perhaps the wrapping function on a combi baler unit.
An added benefit of using Tellus with Kverneland’s own range of machines is the connectivity to Geo Control applications which allows the company’s sprayers, spreaders and seeders to be controlled smartly and efficiently. This includes section control that automatically switches the implement on and off as it crosses headlands, boundaries or already covered ground; and variable rate control of inputs from prescribed maps or field sensors; or the AutosetApp that can automatically set fertiliser spreaders to achieve target rates with known fertiliser products.
The GEOseed application takes precision farming to a new level when used with the precision implements produced by the company. The system ensures seeds are placed in line and in relation to each other and across the full working width of the machine. Operators can choose either parallel or triangular patterns, which make for best use of nutrients, water and sunshine, help with soil erosion and allow mechanical weeding across the seeding direction.
To facilitate connection to tractors’ integral information such as speed, an adapter cable can be specified to connect to the Tellus terminal. Currently the only function not supported by the unit is auto steering which is more likely to be controlled by a GPS feed to a supplementary steering wheel or valve package.
Unlike many technology suites aimed at agriculture, access to the Kverneland is achieved by a one-off payment for instant access.
