Path planning and productivity
During June's IDEAg Interconnectivity Conference, we showed that everybody, without any exclusion, no matter where they are, can improve performance, increase yield and reduce expenses.
In my presentation under “Increased Productivity,” I mentioned “Path Planning." By "Path" I understand a route in the field for equipment to perform the assigned task. Why would it increase productivity?
First of all it means that each pass for your equipment is optimized in terms of length and provides the minimum traveling distance in a particular field for chosen set of equipment. It should be a part of Controlled Traffic Farming (CTF). CTF aims to confine soil compaction to the least possible area of permanent traffic lanes. In this case in would be possible to use the same route for all operations in the field.
Before planning a pass make sure that you have a compatible and optimized set of equipment. The key elements here are
• Technological line completeness
• Automation of internal quality supports and productivity
• Optimization of implement lines for a given tractor or given farm size
• Equipment productivity compatibility (speed, width, controlled traffic)
• Tractor/implement compatibility
We know that a compatible and optimized set of equipment has more advantages, is more productive and easier to use as compared with a customer assembled system.
Optimized pass will serve as a basis for Mission or work order development. Later, in accordance with pass, we can develop all necessary programs for input applications. These programs can be automatically inputted into a tractor, will lead the operator to the necessary field and place in the field, and perform all work in an automatic mode, including driving. It also will inform about refills and results of the done work.
Additionally, you can level the field along the pass for increased speed of operation and better quality. This is especially relevant for self-propelled sprayers and grain harvesters.
Route optimization technologies have matured with a host of software, servers and handheld field computers or phones available to coordinate operations.
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Andrey Skotnikov is founder of owner of New Ag Systems, providing strategic marketing, business development, product development, and R&D of interconnected ag systems and precision farming. Andrey has worked with John Deere and CNH Global in in advanced farming systems and advanced technology engineering for John Deere and CNH, and has an extensive background in development<http://www.newagsystems.com/projects.html>, engineering, commercialization and sales in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova. Andrey holds a Ph.D. in Automation of Technological Processes, M.B.A. in Marketing, M.S. in Soil Science, and B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Learn more about Andrey’s services at his website http://www.newagsystems.com.
