slim_boy_fat
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Is "self-quoting" bad Forum etiquette!
If you can't 'edit' your original post, you're alright.

Is "self-quoting" bad Forum etiquette!
What are you on hardware wise Fraser? Trimble?
We have an old agleader/trimble ez500 for spreading fert, on the free signal. I wish I could justify buying a steering motor and a subscription signal.
What are you on hardware wise Fraser? Trimble?
We have an old agleader/trimble ez500 for spreading fert, on the free signal. I wish I could justify buying a steering motor and a subscription signal.
Nice to hear a bit of all this farmery stuff, too - it's like being back at school.
I realised that tractors were linked to GPS, and that the fields could be mapped out, so as to avoid trees, etc.
I'm assuming the steering motor is the part that keeps it in line & turns around at the end of a row, to start the next one?
Never really thought about it being a subscription service, though - I assumed the signal in the air was free, and that all the rest was software-based - in the same way (but obviously more complicated) that you'd program a GPS in a road-going vehicle.
I've got an old hand-held GPS unit that tells you the acreage (or whatever other units) of an area if you've walked around it - so I'd guess you have drive around the perimiter of the field, so the computer knows the outline shape, and it works it all out from there.
Dunno why I'm asking - I'd never be let loose with one of those things, anyway!
All the Best,
CJ
Hi, fraserb - thanks for the detailed reply.
I'd often wondered how much control they have, and have also noticed how stable the footage seems to be.
I'm guesssing the cameras have built in image-stabilising, nowadays.
My only drone "operation" stint lasted only seconds - it was a (particularly crap) toy that was bought for "Kid Joe" over ten years back.
It really was like something out of the "Lucky Bag"
And from somewhere very near the bottom!
I managed to get it all the way from the front room floor to the ceiling (maybe 2.5m) within about a second, before it plumetted.
I had about three attempts, before giving up - but before long it was broken - but the kid did get to try it out too - just!
It was obviously not anything like the item you're using there - and I'd be surprised if it cost a fiver - including batteries!
The combine driving looks pretty damned good too, as @slim_boy_fat said above.
Now I've got a load more YouTube videos to watch - so thanks!
But anyway, getting a bit of a "hypo" right now, so first - it's time to eat!
All the Best,
CJ
my experience with the cutting edge stuff (autosteer, rtk 2cm signal etc) is with contractors... who generally are in and out, so still the easiest way for them to get on with it is set a straight line in the field, and work from that.Nice to hear a bit of all this farmery stuff, too - it's like being back at school.
I realised that tractors were linked to GPS, and that the fields could be mapped out, so as to avoid trees, etc.
I'm assuming the steering motor is the part that keeps it in line & turns around at the end of a row, to start the next one?
Never really thought about it being a subscription service, though - I assumed the signal in the air was free, and that all the rest was software-based - in the same way (but obviously more complicated) that you'd program a GPS in a road-going vehicle.
my experience with the cutting edge stuff (autosteer, rtk 2cm signal etc) is with contractors... who generally are in and out, so still the easiest way for them to get on with it is set a straight line in the field, and work from that.
Press start, drive your straight line in the field, press end, and then the GPS plots out parallel lines to infinity from thereThey'll turn manually at the end of the fields, set back into work and click auto, and it will drive the next line for them.
Curves, object avoidance, etc, is too complicated unless you're on absolute bleeding edge tech and your fields are mapped.
Also, some of these tractor tools pull the steering something rotten. I was riding along with a local guy disc-harrowing a field for us the other week, and it was surprising how much the discs tried to steer the tractor - GPS had to be set to account for some of it. They're on SF3 and RTK as well.
For some reason, I really like the thought of a self-driving tractor - but as you've had them for so long, I imagine the autonomous cars they're now talking about, just raises a wry smile!
I think I'd be really studying closely it all the time - so much so that it'd take more concentration than actually driving!
As for "object avoidance" - if any jay-walkers don't notice you - they deserve what's coming! **
Off to look up SF3 & RTK, now!
All the Best,
CJ
** Obviously, in a combine it's probably tricky making that decision between letting the jay-walker pass - or comtaminating the crop!
There's a Canadian farmer who has developed an open source GPS/autosteer system called Agopengps that's actually pretty slick. His vids on YouTube (farmerbriantee IIRC) are well worth a look.
I think he's built his own base station using arduino kit to give an RTK signal.
virgin called Olive
With some oil from a virgin called Olive, some bits of dead pig and a few eggs off a mate I made an omelette
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