Retrofit Tractors with Camera - Yay or Nay?

[IHeartRobots]

I have come across some new innovations that equip existing tractors with cameras. Apparently could be used as a cost-effective way for navigation, or improving GPS precision (may mean no or a cheaper GPS is needed). Do you guys feel that would be necessary? any cheaper alternative? or maybe cameras can use for mapping and do you guys feel that would be helpful in any way?

 

[Northern farmer]

Cameras are already used for precision ag type tasks like row detection and steering the implement to follow the row accurately. Not aware of applications that steer the tractor but wouldn't be surprised if those too exist.

Competition is welcome!

 

[IHeartRobots]

Cameras are already used for precision ag type tasks like row detection and steering the implement to follow the row accurately. Not aware of applications that steer the tractor but wouldn't be surprised if those too exist.

Competition is welcome!

Thanks a lot for your comment!

allow me to really like the imagination run wild!
Do you feel what the cars have today, like lane keeping, steering assist or even self parking, would be useful for tractors? Like would you pay for the technology?

quite interested in seeing how everyone feels about these smart tech! Autonomous tractors and the likes LOL

 

[Northern farmer]

I believe this forum has quite an open-minded view on smart tech. Some members provide free solutions that the big companies cannot offer even with a big pile of notes.

My personal imagination was better when I was young (probably not too good even then), I'd prefer examples to be considered rather than trying to invent some useful ideas myself. Are you afraid of the ideas being "stolen"? If so, I think the competition will win you in any case.

Most of our fields do not have lane markings but if your camera was able to steer the tractor to attach an implement (front or rear, hook or tree-point linkage, auto detect) would be nice. Do you think your camera could be able to reverse-park the tractor with a trailer if the trailer blocked all visibility except from the mirrors? A camera at the rear of the trailer would unlikely help much.

Collision warning for poles and other objects or vehicles in the field?

Would I pay for the technology? Would like to but cannot afford anything expensive. How greedy are you? A high quality camera and some decent processing power does not cost a lot.

 

[Steevo]

This post sounds a little like much technology aimed at agriculture today. It's "invented" in a lab, then a reason for it justified, and then pushed to farmers with some spurious claims.

Far too much is supply led rather than demand led.

Why is this? Probably because there isn't the money in farming to do so.



Go to almost any factory....there is a robot stacking pallets most likely 24/7. 3x the workload of employed labour (24hr shift not 8hr shift), predictable workload, rarely makes mistakes, no sick/holiday pay, no pension, no H&S, no employment regs.

Seriously high price tags I'm sure.....though they likely pay for themselves within a year or two so easily justifiable.

Sadly farming lives in a whole different world and that is stifling innovation far more than anything else.

 

[Slick]

Garford Farm Machinery developed a camera guided steering solution.

Robo-Pilot | Tractor Precision Guidance System | Garford Farm Machinery

Robo-pilot facilitates integrating the Robocrop Precision Guidance System for tractor guidance. Robo-pilot uses local positioning information.

garford.com

 

[Northern farmer]

Gardford seems to have turned image/video processing into real products. I wish their website had more information, don't want to bother their sales guys with empty pockets (mine).

Many farmers here complain about satellite visibility or RTK correction signal connectivity issues. This "local positioning information" might be their solution. Just wonder who draws their first AB-line. Perhaps they can follow the previous swath like a laser guided combine but without existing crop.

I cannot see how the camera system would be connecting to some traditional auto-steer systems. Need two independent parallel systems?

 

[Briantee]

I cannot see how the camera system would be connecting to some traditional auto-steer systems. Need two independent parallel systems?

This is an area that has intrigued me. You wouldn't necessarily need 2 systems, but would require 2 inputs and required math. Most systems that compute required wheel angle for guidance would be highly compatible - like AgOpenGPS. Using computer vision (CV) all you are looking for is how far off the line you are and what steer angle it takes to get back there utilizing second order differential (not over steering back across the line again). If you tram lines for example were made with GPS, you could use the camera then to "fine tune" the steer angle to ensure you are dead on the tramline. GPS for tractor, CV for final implement steering is another application.

But yes, who is gonna pay for all these things. Auto steer is successful because there is market pull. Most of the rest, nice to have or seemingly just looks cool and i would like to use it kind of economics. Here in Canada that happens a lot. Lots of tech and $$$$ for little to no production benefit or even negative benefit (loss).

 

[IHeartRobots]

This post sounds a little like much technology aimed at agriculture today. It's "invented" in a lab, then a reason for it justified, and then pushed to farmers with some spurious claims.

Far too much is supply led rather than demand led.

Why is this? Probably because there isn't the money in farming to do so.



Go to almost any factory....there is a robot stacking pallets most likely 24/7. 3x the workload of employed labour (24hr shift not 8hr shift), predictable workload, rarely makes mistakes, no sick/holiday pay, no pension, no H&S, no employment regs.

Seriously high price tags I'm sure.....though they likely pay for themselves within a year or two so easily justifiable.

Sadly farming lives in a whole different world and that is stifling innovation far more than anything else.

Your comments are really interesting and so true! I agree that when innovation is supply led, it is rather sadly doomed to fail over time.
suppose only when prices of tech are much less than the benefits/ productivity improvement, then there would be a much stronger case to have - for example, tech allowing you to do more with existing equipments/ tractors rather than a full and complete upgrade?

 

[IHeartRobots]

Auto steer is successful because there is market pull.

Is this a government regulation?

 

[Wombat]

These guys have pushed forward a lot of the camera guided stuff in the UK over the years

Home – Tillett and Hague Technology Ltd

 

[Briantee]

Is this a government regulation?

No, it's because its extremely useful. Useful products consumers pull. Useless products need to be pushed.

 

[Matt L]

Cameras are already used in forage harvesters.
Can have one that will steer the forager in rowed up grass to follow it hands free and also used in auto fill systems to load trailers without driver input.
There certainly could be other applications for them but finding them will be the biggest challenge.