Precision in guidance of farm machinery

Abstract

Georeferencing by GNSS has opened up possibilities for precise guidance of farm machinery along virtual lines in the fields. The guidance takes place either manually with the help of lightbar indications or in an automatic way. The driver concentrates on supervising the machinery. In prior pass guidance, each run across the field follows the respective prior path offset by the operating width of the machine. Contrary to this, in fixed line guidance, the courses across the field are not defined by the respective prior path but instead solely by the first pass. Prior pass guidance is indispensable in irregularly shaped fields, whereas in rectangular fields fixed line guidance should be preferred. On slopes, using more than one GNSS antenna allows to compensate for roll, pitch or yaw of the tractor. Downward drifting of implements on side slopes can be counteracted by passive- or active guidance corrections.