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Value of Map Sharing Between Multiple Vehicles Using Automated Section Control in the Same Field
1J. Bennett, 2C. Wilson, 1A. Sharda, 1T. W. Griffin
1. Kansas State University
2. Kansas State Univeristy

Large area farms and even moderate sized farms employing custom applicators and harvesters have multiple machines in the same field at the same time conducting the same field operation.  As a method to control input costs and minimize application overlap, these machines have been equipped with automatic section control (ASC). Over application is a concern especially for more irregularly shaped fields; however modern technology including automated guidance combined with automatic section control allow reduced doubling of input application including seeds, fertilizer, and spray.  Automatic section control depends on coverage maps stored locally on each vehicle to determine whether or not to apply input products and up to now, there has not been a clear method to share these maps between vehicles in the same field. Telematics utilizes a cloud computing platform and cellular connectivity which in rural areas is known to have limited service levels. Planting operations were simulated for two 16-row planters, each using two John Deere GreenStar3 2630 monitors, simulated GPS location data stream, electronic rate control units, and individual row unit clutches to have control at the finest granularity. Each simulated planting unit is equipped with automatic section control and telematics gateways to share coverage map data from the first planting unit to JDLink cloud infrastructure then out to the second.  This study evaluates seed cost savings from reducing over application because coverage maps are shared between planting units.    Each field was run twice using parallel tracking, once each with and without coverage map sharing to observe the extent of over application. The field level data were then taken to examine a fictional 1,215 hectare farming operation where the field level data was used as a partial composition of the farm operation.  The average farm savings was $58,909 per year.  Additionally, using the 8,008 scenarios, time value of money was examined to determine the minimum area required annually for a five year breakeven for the technology. As farm input costs increase relative to crop prices, reducing over application will be critical to sustainability.

Keyword: coverage map sharing, wireless, telematics, automated section control