Autosteer For Compact Tractor Retrofit?

[npalen]

"ball field quality lawn auto steer for mowing to keep the lines straight"

Makes we wonder how the big boys get their mowing lines so straight and the geometric patterns on the big league ball fields.
Please don't expect to see that on my lawn.

 

[Wagtail]

"ball field quality lawn auto steer for mowing to keep the lines straight"

Makes we wonder how the big boys get their mowing lines so straight and the geometric patterns on the big league ball fields.
Please don't expect to see that on my lawn.

As you know, the "big boys" do have 'Autosteer' for their huge acreage paddocks. I've seen demonstrations by JD at our annual ag-show within a fairly small demo area with the operator just sitting there; arms folded.

It's the cost for the small operator/user that is the prohibitive factor... the 'System' operating 'signal' is of an annual Operator Licence arrangement.

Mind you, who knows what the future may bring as technologies do trickle-down over the years, especially where there's a market for it.

 

[oldnslo]

I have noticed that excessive tree cover makes older JD Green star system lose its bearings. This was while doing fall tillage along fence lines. Not sure if newer systems are less prone to this or not.

 

[kthompson]

Depending on what you are wanting the compact tractor to do may not need the same guidance as the true farming tractor does. The have really improved the robot home sweeper or vacuum cleaner. Right sure Honda has lawn mowers that are similar to the home vacuum cleaner. Both systems have to handle the situation as it will vary from one run to the next as in house a chair is moved or in lawn toys or wheel barrow or such gets moved.

So if you are wanting a system to say mow a pasture or spray or rake an area it may not need an outside signal. It may be able to had it's own local signal setup so it has reference point. One point on the auto steering systems which are used here with the most accurate used in peanut production is my understanding there is still operator in the cab and know at least with some system the are doing the turning the tractor around just the auto steer and guidance system is used to keep placement in the rows for planting, cultivating and digging. Some of the guidance systems have the ability to provide signal for auto steer but many use the guidance system only and not auto steer. I will probably add the guidance system to tractor for mowing and spraying in 2020 to prevent large overlap and missed streaks. Believe you will find large sprayers and spreader rigs both using the guidance system near 100% as the speeds they often run and how far out they are cover eye sighting just does not work.