Using iPhone as guidance

[Briantee]

Maybe i should include this feature in AgOpenGPS, then all you need is an inexpensive usb garmin antenna and a tablet.

Can you explain exactly what you are after? Like a perimeter measurement and calculate area? (BTW this is more difficult with convex and concave areas then it first seems). Or mapping as you drive? I keep seeing this on ag forums so there is a need out there. The other function is waypoint marking and recovery.

For those thinking of measuring anything with the iphone, it would seem just guessing might be more accurate. Not sure if this issue has been resolved...

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7443725?start=0&tstart=0

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

According to the Agricision onTrak website it uses WASS, EGNOS, and GLONASS. If anyone spots it at LAMMA, can you post up your thoughts on here?? I am interested

I looked at it yesterday. The unit on the bonnet contains a battery, receiver (gps with EGNOS and GLONASS), lightbar, Bluetooth transceiver and processing circuitry. You connect it via Bluetooth to your iPad/iPhone running their free app from which you control it. The app shows you on screen where you are and gives guidance lines, area covered, speed, signal and battery info for the bonnet module and coverage mapping. It's very simple to use and the developer is happy to consider additional functions if there's demand. The details and map of a job completed can be saved and emailed. At present coverage mapping must be started and stopped on the iPad. He's considering offering a Bluetooth sensor switch for coverage mapping to fit between the tractor hydraulic valves and implement pipes. It is not intended to implement steering assistance, section control, variable rate application or any other higher end features.

He was unable to offer me a demo unit to try but did agree to refund fully if I tried it and didn't like it within a couple of weeks as long as the unit was unmarked.

 

[Digester Man]

That last bit is encouraging - I would nearly be tempted to give it a go for this year's slurrying.

 

[Briantee]

Quick video on area calculation.

 

[Digester Man]

I looked at it yesterday. The unit on the bonnet contains a battery, receiver (gps with EGNOS and GLONASS), lightbar, Bluetooth transceiver and processing circuitry. You connect it via Bluetooth to your iPad/iPhone running their free app from which you control it. The app shows you on screen where you are and gives guidance lines, area covered, speed, signal and battery info for the bonnet module and coverage mapping. It's very simple to use and the developer is happy to consider additional functions if there's demand. The details and map of a job completed can be saved and emailed. At present coverage mapping must be started and stopped on the iPad. He's considering offering a Bluetooth sensor switch for coverage mapping to fit between the tractor hydraulic valves and implement pipes. It is not intended to implement steering assistance, section control, variable rate application or any other higher end features.

He was unable to offer me a demo unit to try but did agree to refund fully if I tried it and didn't like it within a couple of weeks as long as the unit was unmarked.

Don't suppose you got a phone number for him! I logged a message through the website and no reply

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

Don't suppose you got a phone number for him! I logged a message through the website and no reply

Sorry for the slow reply.

Adam. 07769 958992.

Good luck

 

[Digester Man]

Thanks. Ended up buying a Topcon X14, was a bit unsure what his backup would be like when he didn't come back by email in over 10 days..

 

[Scrambler]

The iPad app is available on the app store for free. Just search Agricision onTrak I think. There is nothing available for anywhere near £700 is there? and I think the lights on the bonnet will make it so much much easier to use. I have used several light bars and they are impossible to follow properly. Also I can move this one from tractor to tractor + gator etc without any wires or hassle.

Hi Mark,
Forgive me if I'm wrong, but if you are working for Agricision, would you mind answering a question for me?
Is there any way the receiver/lightbar can be connected to an Amatron 3 control box to allow it to do gps auto on/off?

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

Hi Mark,
Forgive me if I'm wrong, but if you are working for Agricision, would you mind answering a question for me?
Is there any way the receiver/lightbar can be connected to an Amatron 3 control box to allow it to do gps auto on/off?

I spoke to Adam at LAMMA about this sort of thing. He currently does not intend for the Agricision system to get into such things as auto on/off, section control or steering assistance. He just wants it to function as a good, cheap, basic guidance system. When I asked about a remote coverage mapping switch he said that they can incorporate one using Bluetooth but he plans to create a bluetooth gadget to fit in line with the spool valve couplings to provide an on/off switch for coverage mapping. I suspect that this could be taken further to provide on/off switching but it's not what he is focussed on.

 

[Northern farmer]

Is there any way the receiver/lightbar can be connected to an Amatron 3 control box to allow it to do gps auto on/off?

Amatron 3 itself can do section control (perhaps needs an activation code). I assume you are just after NMEA position data from the lightbar receiver. If they are working on a bluetooth connected switch, perhaps they could enable NMEA data over bluetooth. Then insert a bluetooth serial receiver to the Amatron GPS connector and you should be fine.

The lightbar receiver is EGNOS capable which should be sufficient for section control. No intelligence related to section control would be necessary if Amatron 3 does it as long as it gets (simple) position data.

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

Amatron 3 itself can do section control (perhaps needs an activation code). I assume you are just after NMEA position data from the lightbar receiver. If they are working on a bluetooth connected switch, perhaps they could enable NMEA data over bluetooth. Then insert a bluetooth serial receiver to the Amatron GPS connector and you should be fine.

The lightbar receiver is EGNOS capable which should be sufficient for section control. No intelligence related to section control would be necessary if Amatron 3 does it as long as it gets (simple) position data.

If that's the case there are standalone satellite receivers that can be bought for sensible money with GPS, GLONASS & EGNOS correction that will output NMEA data straight to the Amatron controller. If you still wanted visual guidance then the signal could also be fed into a Windows tablet running AgOpenGPS to give the visual mapping.

 

[Northern farmer]

If that's the case there are standalone satellite receivers that can be bought for sensible money with GPS, GLONASS & EGNOS correction that will output NMEA data straight to the Amatron controller. If you still wanted visual guidance then the signal could also be fed into a Windows tablet running AgOpenGPS to give the visual mapping.

Right, the Amatron 3 usually comes with a cheap standalone satellite receiver, if ordered with the GPS Switch functionality. Amatron 3 also provides visual guidance with the GPS Switch feature (coverage mapping).

 

[Scrambler]

My Amatron 3 has gps switch built in, and comes with a 50 hr free trial period. To make it work I believe I just need a satellite receiver. Would a suitable one be quite cheap?
I like the idea of the agricision device - rechargeable battery, no cables, Bluetooth - and wonder if there is some way of making its gps signal work with my Amatron 3?