Budget Retrofit RTK autosteer

[Northern farmer]

Some rough idea about the price point would be useful. Does not make sense for every forum member asking that individually. Do you sell parts separately, the GNSS receiver, the steering wheel etc?

Why does the GNSS receiver lack Galileo support? Some more details like the codes tracked would be useful. Compatible with a correction signal directly from a u-blox F9P?

 

[Soon_60]

+1
A lot of market talk but no tech specs at all on their pages.

Kind of got the idea that RTK is for max 10 km. So is it now L1 only?
If so then better wait for them to get L1/L2( mayby also L5).

But for sure looks very promising!

 

[scotston]

@Jinty Mcginty I was quoted around £6.5k for Trimble RTK autosteer fitted.

Was around the same money for either steer ready tractor or to fit a Trimble wheel.

I would love to know where you can get that from. I asked soil essentials for an electric steering retrofit for my 415 and it was about £10k then an additional £2k to move it to the 312. That was trimble. Broadly double what you've quoted?

 

[jcawley]

Looking for recommendations for a budget Retrofit RTK autosteer system that might be part of a grant package (SACGS).
Has to have a minimum spec of the following
A standalone GPS unit with automatic field boundary measurement and field recognition. It must have a minimum capability of straight and curved guidance modes and be capable of linking to implement control and auto steer. Sub 20cm Accuracy Capable of RTK Guidance.
Would there be much of a saving fitting it yourself and getting a supply only quote and realistically how much cash am I going to have to part with ?

For steering i would normally recommend the Trimble GFX-750 with EZ-Pilot pro but because you said you need implement guidance you would need to upgrade to the TMX-2050. You can choose EZ-Pilot (electric steering), or install hydraulic Autopilot system. If you could start with steering and guidance with the 750 you would save a substantial amount of money and then upgrade later on when you want implement guidance.
Additionally, if you are only looking for horizontal accuracy for steering then centerpoint RTX would be a lesser cost alternative to RTK level accuracy. This only requires half the cost of a full rtk unlock and no hardware (but there is a subscription cost to this one).

Guidance Display Comparison Chart

 

[Elliott]

My Trimble 750 rtk is still for sale!

 

[Northern farmer]

My Trimble 750 rtk is still for sale!

GFX-750?

 

[Elliott]

GFX-750?

Sorry no fm 750

 

[Scu6499]

If you're comfortable with electronics it may pay not to bother with the grant and use AgOpenGPS instead.
I built my setup for less than £1800 including full RTK with base station (so no ongoing subscriptions) and steering via hydraulic valve.

Been looking at doing this myself, out of interest what system did you use to get rtk setup? I’ve seen the Emlid reach receiver as a good start point but was wondering if there was a different way?

 

[cquick]

I use Ardusimple kit. I like the mPCIe boards as they slot straight into my base station computer and on my prototype PCB. The ANN-MB-00 antenna is also good.
I also have a couple of v1 RTK2B boards, back when that was the company's only product. All are based around the same chip, so just choose the most convenient package for your application.
www.ardusimple.com

 

[farmerfred86]

If you're comfortable with electronics it may pay not to bother with the grant and use AgOpenGPS instead.
I built my setup for less than £1800 including full RTK with base station (so no ongoing subscriptions) and steering via hydraulic valve.

Just reading some of your posts Charles - very impressive what you have done for <£2k. Many will pay >£20k to fit RTK to a new combine or tractor these days. Its scandalous really what they are charging!

 

[YELROM]

@Charles Quick could you post a bit more information about how you built your system .
I'm very intrigued by what you have done although not sure i could build one

 

[cquick]

Sure, it's quite simple really. My way is just one of many approaches and there's lots of further info and discussion on the agopengps.discourse.group forum.

I Tee'd the steering lines and ran them to a Hydraforce SP10-57C directional valve, as well as a SV10-41 solenoid valve, to act as a safety lockout. Hydraulic power was taken from the power beyond, but you could also break out the side of the spool block, tee into the Orbitrol lines, or just attach it to a spool on constant pumping. Whatever is most convenient.

I attached a linear sensor to the steering ram, which provides position feedback. I got mine from Aliexpress.

In the cab I have a tablet PC which runs the AgOpenGPS software. This connects over USB to the ardusimple GPS receiver, an arduino microcontroller which actually controls the valve and reads the steering position as well as a few other tasks, and a 4G modem to receive the correction signal.

An old desktop PC was setup running a copy of Snip. This receives correction data over USB from an Ardusimple board and broadcasts it over the internet via ntrip. You could also use this signal on other machines. I am providing corrections to a neighbour's Trimble screen at the moment.

Here's a photo album of this year's autosteer conversion of my combine: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Rz9PUYwR7wX2pDU16
The valve is different, an older one that I wanted to make use of, but everything else is as described.
The software is quite advanced and can even do auto-turn: https://photos.app.goo.gl/cexpRMHWAJq4VzrB8

I'm making up some circuit boards at the moment, trying to do a more professional job. Annoyingly, Fedex have kept my package of components hostage in Hong Kong for over a week, so all I have to show for it are these bare PCBs.
The idea is that after some testing on myself and local farmers, I'll have something reliable to sell. My business model would be to send a kit of parts (such as base station, valve, box, tablet and wiring harnesses) and then the farmer can make up appropriate brackets and hose to fit their own machine.
I should stress that AgOpenGPS is not intended for real work and attaching equipment like this is done entirely at your own risk.

If anyone is interested in something like this, do send me a message. It would be good to gauge interest and maybe get something of a pre-order list going
Of course the designs are all public, so you are free to make it all on your own if you so choose. Mine would be more of a convenience option.

 

[BBE]

Sure, it's quite simple really. My way is just one of many approaches and there's lots of further info and discussion on the agopengps.discourse.group forum.

I Tee'd the steering lines and ran them to a Hydraforce SP10-57C directional valve, as well as a SV10-41 solenoid valve, to act as a safety lockout. Hydraulic power was taken from the power beyond, but you could also break out the side of the spool block, tee into the Orbitrol lines, or just attach it to a spool on constant pumping. Whatever is most convenient.

I attached a linear sensor to the steering ram, which provides position feedback. I got mine from Aliexpress.

In the cab I have a tablet PC which runs the AgOpenGPS software. This connects over USB to the ardusimple GPS receiver, an arduino microcontroller which actually controls the valve and reads the steering position as well as a few other tasks, and a 4G modem to receive the correction signal.

An old desktop PC was setup running a copy of Snip. This receives correction data over USB from an Ardusimple board and broadcasts it over the internet via ntrip. You could also use this signal on other machines. I am providing corrections to a neighbour's Trimble screen at the moment.

Here's a photo album of this year's autosteer conversion of my combine: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Rz9PUYwR7wX2pDU16
The valve is different, an older one that I wanted to make use of, but everything else is as described.
The software is quite advanced and can even do auto-turn: https://photos.app.goo.gl/cexpRMHWAJq4VzrB8

I'm making up some circuit boards at the moment, trying to do a more professional job. Annoyingly, Fedex have kept my package of components hostage in Hong Kong for over a week, so all I have to show for it are these bare PCBs.
The idea is that after some testing on myself and local farmers, I'll have something reliable to sell. My business model would be to send a kit of parts (such as base station, valve, box, tablet and wiring harnesses) and then the farmer can make up appropriate brackets and hose to fit their own machine.
I should stress that AgOpenGPS is not intended for real work and attaching equipment like this is done entirely at your own risk.

View attachment 942761

If anyone is interested in something like this, do send me a message. It would be good to gauge interest and maybe get something of a pre-order list going
Of course the designs are all public, so you are free to make it all on your own if you so choose. Mine would be more of a convenience option.

PM sent

 

[Scu6499]

Ok so I’m looking to build a setup like this, where do I start, I’ve found a lot of different parts lists and was wondering if there is a standard one to get going and using the ardusimple rtk receiver setup with it, starting out is it best to buy the parts and put together with breadboards or go down pcb route? I also already have a John Deere atu is it possible to wire this up as my steering motor?

 

[Stuart J]

Ok so I’m looking to build a setup like this, where do I start, I’ve found a lot of different parts lists and was wondering if there is a standard one to get going and using the ardusimple rtk receiver setup with it, starting out is it best to buy the parts and put together with breadboards or go down pcb route? I also already have a John Deere atu is it possible to wire this up as my steering motor?

Google agopengps wiki. It tells you how to download the AOG software which inludes a folder with the parts list.

 

[Northern farmer]

Google agopengps wiki. It tells you how to download the AOG software which inludes a folder with the parts list.

Correct but one must be careful with the parts list. It has duplicate parts as options like the relay (either a PCB relay or a socket and a socket relay) etc. Mostly not that expensive parts though. Anyway better to build a good complete picture of the system and the parts one prefers. Several wheel angle sensor options as well as IMUs and tilt sensors. The SW is also evolving, might be better to wait if existing IMUs get changed to a new one or if the updated SW is built to support old.

If at any doubt, I'm sure Charles and others can help here or at the AOG forum.

 

[YELROM]

If anyone is interested in something like this, do send me a message. It would be good to gauge interest and maybe get something of a pre-order list going
Of course the designs are all public, so you are free to make it all on your own if you so choose. Mine would be more of a convenience option.

I have PM'ed you

 

[jorgenbg]

I just bought a used TMX 2050 Trimble display with an AG25 antenna. If I were to set up my own base station using ArduSimple. What would be required? I guess a radio connected to the TMX in the tractor? Does this need to come from Trimble? Trimble seems most interested in their RTX signals and not much on RTK.

Most of my fields are in line of sight from the base station.

 

[Northern farmer]

I just bought a used TMX 2050 Trimble display with an AG25 antenna. If I were to set up my own base station using ArduSimple. What would be required? I guess a radio connected to the TMX in the tractor? Does this need to come from Trimble? Trimble seems most interested in their RTX signals and not much on RTK.

Most of my fields are in line of sight from the base station.

Not sure about the details but if your intention is to go the Trimble radio route, I don't think it would go under the thread title, nothing like "budget RTK autosteer".

 

[jorgenbg]

Not sure about the details but if your intention is to go the Trimble radio route, I don't think it would go under the thread title, nothing like "budget RTK autosteer".

You might be correct, but my intention is to get rtk signal broadcast to trimble on budget. It seems possible.