The lead in the race for a driver-free, arable farming utopia has been taken up by SeedMaster. It has grand plans to revolutionise life in (or rather, out of) the tractor seat and it’s called Dot.
and two speed ranges topping out at 9 km/h and 19 km/h, respectively. A heavier-duty walking beam axle on the side opposite the engine helps keep all four wheels biting into terra firma and acts as a counter- weight to the driveline. Dot’s choice of diesel power differs from most prototype driverless tractors, which tend to run off batteries. How- ever, electricity adds complexity, both in man- ufacturing and for the end user. Big batteries remain prohibitively expensive, don’t have the capacity to deliver the huge power outputs re- quired and are a nightmare to charge in hard- to-reach places with poor access to the grid.
Software The robot-grade software that allows Dot to run without a driver was developed by Seed- Master’s seven developers and supported by guidance specialist Raven. Manual steering with a remote-control joystick is only really needed for farmyard manoeuvres and picking up/dropping off implements, although even this can be automated once their GPS coordi- nates have been noted. It uses existing field maps to create uncrossable virtual boundaries for the machine and its implement. The com- pany’s own software makes sense of the infor- mation provided by the map, including
hazards such as rogue troughs and power poles. From that, it picks out the most efficient route across a field, which must then be ap- proved by the farmer before it is sent to the on-board processor. Dot strictly follows this route and will stop dead if it’s forced to deviate, before sending an alert and waiting for operator input. Owners can also keep tabs on its progress through on- board cameras, or even take the reins via long- range wifi. Most of the basic decision-making during work is computerised, so it can do things such as reduce forward speed to climb a steep hill. It also collects data as it works, which can be used to form variable rate application and horsepower maps as well as monitoring fuel usage and repair/maintenance indicators.
NEED TO KNOW
▶ Six units running this year ▶ Implements will include a 36 m sprayer, 14 ton grain cart and 9 m drill
▶ Bare unit likely to cost $ 250,000 – $ 300,000
▶ Europe-friendly 3 m version coming by 2021
In the field To keep purchasing decisions simple, one Dot unit is designed to be able to cover the same land area as a single combine – about 1,000 ha. Machines still require a degree of operator input – sprayer tanks and drill hoppers need filling, as does the fuel tank every 10-14 hours – but it’s designed to be far less taxing than an 18-hour stint in the seat. Nor is there any getting away from the fact that shear-bolts break and nozzles block, but there are plenty of companies developing cameras and sen- sors capable of detecting problems and alerting operators. The cost of the kit is tumbling too, so there’s likely to be rapid progress in this department. Carrying implements on top of the power platform also helps cut compaction by making use of their weight to benefit traction. Typical- ly, tractors must outweigh the drill or cultiva- tor to help put their power to the ground, but Dot can make do with a fairly modest empty weight of less than 6 ton, which apparently re- duces the quantity fuel and power required purely for propulsion.
Health and safety As ever, health and safety represents the big- gest challenge in any type of automation. The
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