Yes that has to be the way so it doesn't matter what device you use. Plus wifi connection from control to machine to get away from all this ISO and other incompatible connector rubbish
iPad machine control
- Thread starter Clive
- Start date
Yes that has to be the way so it doesn't matter what device you use. Plus wifi connection from control to machine to get away from all this ISO and other incompatible connector rubbish
It seems a good idea, but I agree with Neils. Reliability...
What happens when the ipad won't connect? Or the app has a bug? You take it to your local Apple store and tell them to fix it because you're drilling/spraying/fertilising etc... they'll laugh at you. (or tell you to come back at 4pm for an appointment). They don't give a toss if you're trying to get finished because the weathers going to change. They won't have a clue what you're talking about to be fair...
I'm sure manufacturers will try, but I can't see it all being done through an Ipad...
What happens when the ipad won't connect? Or the app has a bug? You take it to your local Apple store and tell them to fix it because you're drilling/spraying/fertilising etc... they'll laugh at you. (or tell you to come back at 4pm for an appointment). They don't give a toss if you're trying to get finished because the weathers going to change. They won't have a clue what you're talking about to be fair...
I'm sure manufacturers will try, but I can't see it all being done through an Ipad...
- Location
- Huntingdon, UK
So make it accessible through a web browser, connecting via wifi. You can use an ipad, android tablet, laptop etc, most farms now would have access to at least 2 devices, how many people have two spare screens for there implements? The only specialist bit would be the small brain box that makes it wifi, that would be a contact the manufacturer job, not Apple. No cable = universal comparability and no cable to get smashed by link arms.
In theory it sounds good, but how many farms in the UK struggle for phone signal on large parts of the farm? The wifi required comes through a SIM card, and if the signal is poor, you can lose connection easily. We've done testing on vehicles sharing A-B lines with each other in the same field, and If the phone signal drops a bit, the connection disappears. We need the mobile phone companies to pull their finger out... in the Netherlands, you can go anywhere and get 3G.
- Location
- Huntingdon, UK
Why on earth do you need a sim card? Wifi has nothing to do with the phone network. Just have a small access point on the implement, and use the wifi to connect with this and use a web browser based page to control the implement. Just like the calving camera we have, it is displayed and controlled via a web browser, connects via wifi but you do not need an internet connection.
Steevo
Member
- Location
- Gloucestershire
Agreed. Wi-fi could also be handy for firmware upgrades, or manufacturer diagnosis by putting the machine in the yard near an internet connected AP.
Steevo
Member
- Location
- Gloucestershire
Ah now you see Andrew... You've lost me!!!
Imagine your router in the house, but unplugged from the internet. Your computers can still talk to each other perfectly well, same as your tractor and drill could.
- Location
- Huntingdon, UK
Ah now you see Andrew... You've lost me!!!
OK. Our cow camera is a 360 degree moving camera. It is connected via a cable to a wifi transmitter, like the router in your house, that does the internet. Iphones, laptops, ipads etc can connect to this wifi. Then you open the web browser, but instead of going to a www. address (on the world wide web) you go to a local address (i.e. on your network), which will then display the camera, and has a whole load of buttons that let you move the camera, zoom it in and out, program areas where it will not display (for privacy if needed), set an automated route for it to follow etc etc. Basically a whole lot more complicated than most implement controllers, and the whole thing will work without being plugged in to the world wide web.
I'm sure @Sleepy will be able to explain it a lot better than me.
- Location
- Huntingdon, UK
It can be done, but I've never bothered.
Pheasant Surprise
Member
- Location
- Woodbridge, Suffolk
Should be no reason why you can't access the camera locally (your own network) or over the internet - the only thing the latter requires is a fixed IP address (and some port forwarding/security on your router) or a dynamic DNS client, so when you click e.g www.mycamera.com from the ski chalet you can see what's going on back home
- Location
- Huntingdon, UK
It's like the internet but it's your own small private internet not connected to the main internet.........
Most people haven't any idea what the difference between WiFi and Internet and Broadband is thanks to BT and Sky with their ridiculous marketing campaigns.
It is within Sky's interest to muddy the waters so as people think
"hmm I don't get any wifi in the kitchen I know I'll switch from Plusnet to Sky they have the best Internet coverage around your house"
It is within Sky's interest to muddy the waters so as people think
"hmm I don't get any wifi in the kitchen I know I'll switch from Plusnet to Sky they have the best Internet coverage around your house"
"hmm I don't get any wifi in the kitchen I know I'll switch from Plusnet to Sky they have the best Internet coverage around your house"
TP Link wifi range extenders:
http://uk.tp-link.com/products/?categoryid=1247
Northern farmer
Member
- Location
- North
If it worked like this, you would loose live internet on your tablet (unless the tractor had internet connectivity to share via its local WIFI access point). I assume one would prefer to use all internet based services on a tablet at the tractor cabin too, not just use it as a dummy display replacing another display.
The intelligence would remain on another box at the tractor if the tablet was just a display device, working via the browser. I cannot see how this would create an alternative to existing precision ag devices, you would be equally dependent on the "old" companies.
Things were a bit different if there was a precision ag application running on the tablet and if there was a standardized WIFI (bluetooth or something else) access at the tractor that would accept steering control from this WIFI connected device and would feed sensor info from the tractor in a standardized format to the tablet. If this was realistic, then it would be equally realistic to assume that my AGI-4 (variant) receiver would be plug-and-play compatible with any tractor brand or (vice versa for one tractor and other GNSS devices).
For some odd reason currently the AGI-4 receiver is modified for different tractor brands to avoid full compatibility. How does that fit with the idea of tractor brands providing an open, standardized interface with full capability to third party control units? I'd like to see that happening but as long as it is not coming, I cannot see how a commercial tablet would replace expensive, brand specific precision ag devices from the cabin.
Pheasant Surprise
Member
- Location
- Woodbridge, Suffolk
Not necessarily. If tablet has a 3G/4G radio then that can be used for internet access. The wifi radio can be run simultaneously and when placed in "ad-hoc" rather than "infrastructure" mode to connect to a wifi enabled controller on the implement or presumably isobus/CANBUS gateway on the tractor. Otherwise connect using a hard wired connection on the tablet cradle. This is nothing new.
Tablet presumably would run an app that is interfaced to another control box on the implement or to sat receiver or whatever. Smarts are in the application itself, but not necessarily all the smarts.
Claas are known to be developing a full isobus VT app on the iPad. Vaddy have an iPad app as do a few others. Wifi and Bluetooth are as standardised as you will find. The difficulty, compatibility and programmer wise is ISObus itself.
Not an odd reason all and totally deliberate. One common platform, AGI-4, many variants each 'branded' and resold with lotsa margin by many mainstream manufacturers. Sound familiar?
A tablet app type scenario helps to break down or decouple if you like the single hardware/software tie in that legacy manufacturers so love and so protect margin and their business model. It really is game changing, that us why they are reluctant to change. It could easily wipe out their entire business model.
