Most Row Crop Acreage Managed Using Auto-steer and Guidance Systems

Auto-steer and guidance systems use technologies that visualize and track the position of tractors, harvesters, and other equipment in real time. The main purpose of these systems is to reduce instances in which farmers unintentionally miss parts of their fields (known as “skips”) or make redundant passes through the field (“overlaps”). Such systems have evolved over time from “light bar” technologies that were semi-autonomous to more sophisticated systems that allow near-total automated steering. Today’s machines have the ability to use information from global navigation satellite systems, a general term that describes any satellite that provides positioning, navigation, and timing services, including global positioning systems (GPS). That ability allows for a high degree of precision in tracking exact locations in fields. Even so, their level of accuracy and precision depends on factors such as slope and terrain, the number of satellites in view at any point in time, and ionospheric activity, which can affect communication quality. Guidance systems come equipped in farm machinery or can be purchased separately and integrated with existing equipment. Their affordability and ease of installation, calibration, and use make them appealing to farm operators.

自动转向与导航系统采用实时可视化并追踪拖拉机、联合收割机及其他农用设备位置的技术。此类系统的核心目标是减少农户因疏忽漏耕农田区段（业内称为“漏耕（skips）”）或重复穿行田地造成“重耕（overlaps）”的情况。此类系统历经迭代升级，从半自动化的“光条式”导航技术，发展至可实现近乎完全自动转向的精密系统。当前的农用设备可借助全球导航卫星系统（Global Navigation Satellite Systems, GNSS）获取相关信息——该术语泛指所有提供定位、导航与授时服务的卫星，其中涵盖全球定位系统（Global Positioning System, GPS）。该技术可实现农田内目标位置的高精度追踪。即便如此，其精准度与精度仍受多重因素制约，包括地表坡度与地形、任一时刻可见卫星的数量，以及可能干扰通信质量的电离层活动。导航系统可原厂预装于农用机械中，亦可单独购置后与现有农机设备集成适配。其性价比突出，且安装、校准与操作流程简便易用，因此深受农场经营者的青睐。