For ultimate auto-steering accuracy AGCO Global Technologies’ new Auto-Guide European RTK Base Station is now available. With a dynamic accuracy down to +/-2cm it provides a highly accurate steering system for row crop applications, where sub-metre and or even decimetre differential GPS is not good enough.
The new RTK Base Station not only offers ultimate precision, but is also able to supply correction signals to a number of machines working in the same location. This saves the cost of multiple subscriptions for other correction services.
Key features
• Accurate to +/-2cm, depending on field conditions. Compensates for atmospheric delays, orbital errors and other GPS variables
• Precise correction signal for accurate machine guidance for critical field operations
• Compact, rugged design, using the latest technology in site survey components
• Simple to set-up and use
• Signal can be employed by multiple machines using Auto-Guide
Ultimate accuracy
For most farm work the uncorrected signals from the satellites in the Global Positioning System (GPS) are simply too inaccurate to be of any practical help. To improve precision most commercial systems now employ ‘differential’ (DGPS) systems that offer accuracies down to 10-20cm, depending on the quality of the receiver and signal.
This, however, is still not good enough for those working in some row-crop applications, high value crop planting and harvesting where inaccuracy or machine damage can have a significant influence on the final crop quality and yield. Indeed, in these applications Auto-Guide steering with the RTK Base Station correction signal will provide higher precision than steering manually – at a consistent +/-2cm, depending on field conditions.
Moreover, using Auto-Guide frees operators from the task of steering the vehicle, allowing them to concentrate on other important tasks. As well as improving accuracy, Auto-Guide also works in all conditions, including the dark, extending machine productivity and ensuring a rapid return on the investment.
Compact, rugged design
The Base Station provides what is known as Real Time Kinematic (RTK) differential GPS corrections. It uses normal GPS, but also sends out it own extremely accurate correction signals. It works on exactly the same principles as the ‘ground reference stations’ used by subscription differential services. But, instead of relaying this information back to satellites and then down to the vehicles, the RTK Base Station simply transfers it direct via UHF radio.
This close proximity helps enhance accuracy, because the closer the base station is to the machine, the higher the precision of the correction, particularly when compared with ground reference stations from commercial differential services.
AGCO Global Technologies’ new Auto-Guide European RTK Base Station is built using the latest technology available in GPS technology this ensures the system is extremely stable and reliable. It features fast start-up times and is able to track satellites, even at low elevations.
The RTK Base Station incorporates a survey grade Agricultural Smart antenna (dual frequency). A UHF radio data module is attached to the underneath of the GPS receiver, through a specially designed integral bracket, without any cables. This whole unit, including the radio aerial, mounts onto a portable and adjustable tripod.
Ease of portability ensures the Base Station is always working in the optimum position – ensuring the correction signal is within line of sight and close to the receiver, the higher the accuracy. For best repeatability (enhanced accuracy) the base can be mounted in a fixed position on a solid base if required. A 12 Volt vehicle or ‘leisure’ battery provides power.
Vehicles employing the correction signal are fitted with a UHF radio receiver that installs into the Auto-Guide Top Dock or tractor cab roof. An external aerial receives the correction signal from the base station.
Simple to use and set up
The RTK Base Station comes in its own carry case. Setting it up is simply a matter of erecting the tripod and connecting the power supply. The Auto-Guide Base Station then ‘self-surveys’ when the power is switched on and starts to transmit the correction data within minutes. Users do not have to input any information or set up the system, so machines are quickly in work.
Shared signal saves costs
The AGCO Global Technologies Auto-Guide RTK Base Station is also a cost effective solution for multiple users of Auto-Guide steering systems and other machines requiring highly accurate differential GPS signals. All vehicles can be fitted with the UHF receivers for the differential signal and share the same information coming from the base station. This means that operators no longer need to subscribe to individual differential correction signals from commercial suppliers. Moreover, these RTK signals are more accurate, too.
