CROP CARE ▶▶▶
possible for the supplier to log on remotely, re- gardless of where the machine is, in order to assist the driver and even to take over full con- trol of the system. This is undoubtedly a major plus for users with only limited experience, and in fact also a must to help users set up the IC-Light successfully.
Adjustment Accurately identifying the position of the row is one thing. Keeping the hoeing machine ac- curately in line with the row is another chal- lenge. A sideshift is an ideal way of adjusting a seed drill or potato planter, but adjusting a ba- sic sideshift is a question of action and reac- tion. Is the hoeing machine drifting sideways, or is it pushing the tractor sideways? A seed drill or even a hoeing machine can be subtly adjusted using steering discs behind the ma- chine, such as those supplied by Raven and Vantage Agrometius (Trimble). Two years ago, John Deere introduced AutoTrac Implement Guidance, which uses a cylinder as a stabiliser
Major players join in
Hoeing technology used to be the domain of smaller, specialised manufacturers. This seems to be changing, as larger machine manufacturers are foreseeing a growth mar- ket. Recently, Amazone took over the Ger- man company Schmotzer, while Steketee has become part of Lemken. Earlier this year, German manufacturer Zürn acquired a ma- jority stake in British company Garford. Monosem was taken over by John Deere in 2015; this will have been primarily for its seed drills, but Monosem also manufacturers hoeing machines. This explains why John Deere is working on its Autoguide Imple- ment Guidance. Meanwhile in the USA, John Deere has fitted sprayers with its Vision Guidance system. This is made up of a camera that is able to recog- nise rows using image processing, enabling not only a vehicle but also a hoeing machine to travel accurately in line with the row. “We start with guiding a tractor or a self-pro- pelled machine using row recognition, and the next step will be to make that available for hoeing machine guidance, for example,”
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Photo analysis using smart software results in this computerised image. The technology is similar to that which is used for number plate or facial recognition, for example.
to move the lifting mechanism sideways and keep the tool on course. The advantage of this is that it requires no adjustments to the tool it- self, while the tool is not made heavier and does not need to be positioned further behind the tractor.
Steketee opts for the hoeing machine to be fit- ted in a parallelogram formation, which allows for the sideways adjustment. Usually, it only concerns minor adjustments, but that requires a substantial structure all the same. This makes the machine heavier, and also shifts the centre point further backwards. You will never actually fall short of the required tractive power, but due to the balance required in order to lift, a 3m IC-Light still requires at least a 100 hp-tractor. Six-metre and also 9m versions are increasingly being supplied in practice, and that requires a correspondingly heavier tractor to lift them.
What about the cost? A 3m hoeing machine (with six elements) for sugar beet or chicory is listed in Steketee’s cat- alogue at € 8,000. If camera guidance is added, a different frame is fitted and that costs an additional € 20,000. Section control costs € 3,000 for the basic version plus € 500 per element (or € 550 per element to also enable it to exert pressure).
Hoeing machine from Monosem, now part of John Deere. Also available with camera guid- ance and section monitoring.
states John Deere. The system is in an ad- vanced stage of development. Although no date has been given as yet, John Deere ex- pects to start supplying within the foreseea- ble future.
On the other hand, almost every supplier of hoeing machines has since begun supplying camera guidance systems, namely a Claas as-
▶ FUTURE FARMING | 1 november 2019
sembled camera system. This Culti Cam is supplied by Claas E-Systems (based on the Eco-Dan camera). The camera works on the basis of digital images that enable the soft- ware to recognise the colour green, which is used to identify a row of crops. A version that is capable of recognising height (3D) has also since become available.
PHOTO: HANS PRINSEN
PHOTO: MARK PASVEER
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