DOT is a U-shaped vehicle that fits around ‘DOT-ready’ equipment – machinery that fits the platform’s specific schematic. Pattison Liquid Systems is now developing such machines for the Canadian market.
DOT aims at economy through equipment uniformity
P
NORTH AMERICA BY MATT MCINTOSH
attison Liquid Systems – a West- ern-Canadian farm machinery manu- facturer – has partnered with DOT Technology Corp. to produce equip-
ment that fits the DOT Power Platform, a versa- tile U-shaped, autonomous driving unit. The platform drives itself and any attached imple- ment, such as a seeder or sprayer, using a com- bination of GPS technology and associated precision computer systems. President and CEO Rick Pattison says farmers using the DOT platform begin by generating a field map with satellite imagery, or by driving around a field’s perimeter and impediments within (ponds, trees). The map is downloaded to the ma- chine’s computer system before it begins its
rounds in the field – spraying, fertilising, plant- ing, and so on. “The farmer has to sign off on all field maps,” Pattison says. “There are both computer and mechanical safety measures in- cluded. If a truck is parked somewhere it’s not supposed to be, the machine will stop.” According to the marketing, the DOT Power Platform’s associated equipment frees the farmer from being stuck in a tractor cab, and from spending comparatively more money on tractors. DOT Technology’s website also claims the system reduces on-farm fuel use and over- all carbon dioxide emissions by 20%, while gaining 20% in value on future equipment trade-ins. The platform is said to be suitable for “scaling” to both larger and smaller farm sizes, though the U-shaped platform only comes in one size (the wheels can be changed
to account for different crop row widths, however). It’s also suggested farmers can reduce the variety (and ensuing cost) of pur- chasing a wide variety replacement parts, such as oil filters. Uniformity can often bring substantial savings, of course. But at least some of these savings appear to depend on how many DOT plat- forms and compatible machines one owns. At $300,000 (€250,000) for the U-shaped power-unit alone, the initial price tag is by no means insignificant. six platforms and accom- panying equipment pieces are set to be re- leased for testing on six different farms across the province of Saskatchewan this spring. From there, Pattison plans on showcasing the technology at farm shows through the sum- mer, and to ramp up production later in 2018.
▶ FUTURE FARMING | 25 May 2018
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