New technology,,,what else is out there?

[ChiefEngineer]

Here in Indiana I've been following Auto Guide...a new automation system that automates farm tractors so that a farmer can drop off the tractor and the tractor will follow gps coordinates pre programmed to plant (within a centimeter). The same system will harvest and track the yield to allow soil tests on areas underperforming (within a centimeter).

A farmer drops off the tractor filled with gas and the spread spectrum device onboard coordinates with a tower mounted system within 10 miles to alert if there are issues. This eliminates the farmer or a farm hand and much labor.

If farmers are doing this, what really new cool systems are out there for us..automated or otherwise? I don't see automating remote vans although it ouldn't be worse than some of the drivers I've seen...

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

I am aware that for a few years now they have had the systems that meter the seed and the fertilizer to match the soil conditions.

I gather from your message they are now making use of a "driverless" tractor? Is this experimental, or are you hearing that these are now user ready and in production?

I don't know what I would do with my time while my tractor drove itself. I would be worried sick because while I am over on the next farm neutering pigs my $245,000 tractor plus it's pricey computer/gps/satellite system and new planter that will interface with the electronics.... WOW! $350,000 to $400,000 running through field just begging some thief with a flat-bed hauler to wisk it away.

And we though operating a radio station today was worrysome. ;D

 

[rrsounds]

I am aware that for a few years now they have had the systems that meter the seed and the fertilizer to match the soil conditions.

I gather from your message they are now making use of a "driverless" tractor? Is this experimental, or are you hearing that these are now user ready and in production?

I don't know what I would do with my time while my tractor drove itself. I would be worried sick because while I am over on the next farm neutering pigs my $245,000 tractor plus it's pricey computer/gps/satellite system and new planter that will interface with the electronics.... WOW! $350,000 to $400,000 running through field just begging some thief with a flat-bed hauler to wisk it away.

And we though operating a radio station today was worrysome. ;D

This brings to mind that the origin of the term "Broadcasting" comes from a method that farmers used to spread seed.


I remember back when I was a teen that my father had a very expensive farm implement stolen. There seems to be a huge, ongoing black market for expensive farm equipment. I would hope that the same technology that makes new pinpoint planting miracles possible also makes location and retrieval more likely after being stolen.

Kind Regards,
David

 

[littlejohn]

the technology exists. It's called 'LoJack' and works quite well.

 

[K4WRF]

Here in Indiana I've been following Auto Guide...a new automation system that automates farm tractors so that a farmer can drop off the tractor and the tractor will follow gps coordinates pre programmed to plant (within a centimeter). The same system will harvest and track the yield to allow soil tests on areas underperforming (within a centimeter).

A farmer drops off the tractor filled with gas and the spread spectrum device onboard coordinates with a tower mounted system within 10 miles to alert if there are issues. This eliminates the farmer or a farm hand and much labor.

If farmers are doing this, what really new cool systems are out there for us..automated or otherwise? I don't see automating remote vans although it ouldn't be worse than some of the drivers I've seen...

When I was in college back in the 60’s, I recall seeing a fairly detailed concept of this as a joint Ag/ME project from another university that I can’t recall. It was dated in the 50’s and was a complex mechanical control system that would have greatly exceeded the cost of the base tractor. It was proposed that these systems would be commonplace in a very short period of time. From that, I guess we can conclude 50-years is not a long time.

With that, can we say human less broadcast remotes will be commonplace in a very short period of time?

LOL!
w/