John Deere's AutoTrac Vision and AutoTrac Rowsense systems let sprayer operators work hands-free, cutting fatigue and crop damage. A sprayer operator explains how the guidance technology improves efficiency and accuracy in the field.
It starts off pretty mild. A little distraction here, a little crop damage there. But then the hours add up, the fields get longer, the frustration and fatigue build up, the stress levels mount, and before you know it, you've got a bad case of row rage. That's what steering by hand for hours can do, even to the best of operators. How costly is row rage? Running over the row for even one second at 15 miles an hour will take out more than 90 corn plants. Imagine how that can add up over a day. Not anymore. John Deere introduces two hands free guidance systems to help your 4 Series sprayer stay on track without taking out crops or wearing out you or your operators. For early season crops, choose the new AutoTrac vision. Using a front mounted camera to actually see and detect corn, soybeans and cotton at least 6 inches high. Autotrac Vision is available only from John Deere. For later season canopied corn, choose new autotrac rowsense. Using a paddle sensor mounted on the sprayer's front wheels, it actually feels and detects mature corn stalks. Both guidance systems help sprayer wheels stay in the center of each row and dramatically reduce yield, robbing crop damage. Even if planter drift causes misalignment or the AB line from planting isn't available at spraying. With both systems you can spray faster with less fatigue. Especially valuable in tight application windows. Increasing sprayer speed from 14 to 18 miles an hour lets you cover more than 20% more acres every day. Both guidance solutions help sprayer operators of all experience levels do their jobs with higher productivity perform because they can better focus on other things.
Your eyes hurt from staring at the hood all day long and my back between my shoulder blades from steering all day long would hurt. And rowsense will automatically adjust your AB line. So on turnarounds I could just grab the steering wheel and turn and click the button and start off and it would adjust the line all the way down according to the row. So it was a tremendous load off for stress and fatigue on my body.
Here's a closer look at how each system works, starting with the AutoTrack vision. The advanced camera detects a difference between the crop row and the soil in between to correctly identify rows. This input helps auto track offset any misalignments and reduce the risk of crop damage. When canopy closes over your rows of corn, it's time for auto track Rowsense, currently approved on straight 30 inch corn rows. Auto track Rowsense uses input adjustment signals to help take the guesswork out of late season application in taller corn with a thick canopy here's what you see in the cab with Autotrac Vision. You see a graphic overlay with detailed information in real time, showing crop rows marked in green, the center of each row, the white dashes and the calibrated center of each row, shown here as a solid blue line. See how the last two indicators line up to deliver the best guidance. Any John Deere 4 Series sprayer model can be equipped with either of these two new guidance systems, or you can add both for the best overall performance across the growing season. Isn't it time to control your row rage? See your John Deere dealer for details on all new Autotrac Vision and Autotrac Rowsend trademark systems. Performance that pays.
