A guidance system that ‘feels' its way down the corn rows

By DALE HILDEBRANT, Farm & Ranch Guide
Thursday, November 8, 2007 12:51 PM CST

Scott Longlet stands in front of a header equipped with the tactile sensors which are part of the Reichardt guidance system.

ARTHUR, N.D. - Buster (James) Schneider sits in the cab of the New Holland combine, heading down the corn rows, going slightly over six miles per hour and not even touching the steering wheel. Meanwhile, the 12-row, 22-inch spacing header is centered on the rows perfectly, thanks to the Reichhardt Ultra Guidance PSR system, which literally ‘feels' it way down the rows.

There are four sensor options with the system and today the combine is tied into a tactile sensor (TAC) that is mounted on one of the row crop unit's dividing snouts that senses the two rows of corn stalks coming into the header on each side of the snout and keeps the combine on course with a three centimeter accuracy.

For Schneider, one of the big advantages of using the Reichhardt TAC guiding option is the lower operator fatigue. In fact, Schneider finds running the combine so relaxing, he comes from his home in Beulah, N.D., each fall to help Dan Zimmerman harvest his corn crop on his farm south of Arthur, N.D.

“You're not all tensed up constantly steering to keep the combine on the rows,” Schneider commented, “which means you are relaxed at the end of the day. And also it allows the operator a chance to pay attention to the monitors on the combine and other aspects of the harvest.

“And the system really shines when there is a visibility problem, making it hard to see the corn rows, such as very dusty conditions, during night time harvest or when the setting sun causes glare on the cab windshield,” he added.

Although it's hard to put a number on it, Schneider also claims the guiding system also reduces harvesting loss on the header end of the combine.

To prove this, Schneider switches off the guidance system and maneuvers the combine so the header is still on the row, but crowding it to one side. As he does this, ears start flying off the stalk and landing on the ground, in response to the stalks now having to bend a little to be gathered into the head.

It's a graphic illustration of the benefit of the rows being centered between the gathering chains.

With another touch of the button, the guidance system is again engaged, you feel the combine squirm slightly back and forth a couple of times and the header is again centered on the corn rows.

As mentioned earlier, the Reichhardt guidance system can use information from four different sensor options - the tactile sensor, which was illustrated above; a GPS signal; signals from an ultrasonic based sensor and a mechanical sensor.

According to Scott Longlet, president of Reichhardt Electronics Innovations, Inc., the Ultra Guidance PSR system can use either an electric steering motor or the hydraulic steering system on a tractor or self-propelled machine for accurate guidance.

“There are no sensor options that are perfect for all applications,” Longlet said, “and that's what makes this system the best. You can actually select one of the four different sensor options that works best for guidance during that particular field operation.

“For instance, you may choose the GPS signal for planting, then switch to the ultrasonic sensor for spraying and finally use the tactile sensor for corn harvesting,” he added.

He said the price is about the same as what other auto steer systems are selling for, but the difference is the flexibility the system offers.

The system consists of three main components:

The vBASIC kit, which is the basic hardware that stays with each vehicle. The component contains a wiring harness and hydraulic valve or electric motor.

The iBASIC kit is the intelligence component part of the system. It consists of the iBOX, which is a steering computer, and a cBOX or controller unit.

The iBOX can store information for up to eight vehicles and the cBOX allows the driver to choose the steering mode from the seat in the cab. The cBOX also includes a mini steering wheel for added convenience.

The sensor component options

- SKY, which uses GPS signals and can be used for tillage work, seeding, fertilizer application and harvesting small grains and soybeans;

- SONIC that uses sonic waves to recognize tramlines, rows, berms, marker tracks and edges and is useful for planting, bedding, and following trams, rows or swaths;

- TAC, the tactile sensors that ‘feel' through corn or other stiff rows that are mature; and

- MEC, a mechanical row finder that can be used on sugar beets and other root crops.

Jay Zimmerman noted his family has used the Reichhardt guidance system for many of their field operations, including planting, spraying, and harvesting both corn and sugarbeets.

“The system works really well and will soon pay for itself,” Jay said. “For instance, during the corn harvest, by cutting down on the operator fatigue, we are able to go at least an hour later each day because the operator isn't exhausted. And when you start getting later in the season, as it is now, those extra hours in the field are important.”

Since the system is used on several different tractors, a sprayer and the combine, Zimmerman really appreciates the maneuverability of the system and how easy it is to move from one application to another.

The Zimmermans have their system tied into the hydraulic steering systems on their equipment, but a farmer in the Amenia area, Pete Lindstrom, uses the electric motor that attaches to the steering wheel for his auto steer system.

“I found it to be very reliable, simple to use and I appreciated the ability to follow exactly the previous tracks made through the field,” Lindstrom said.

Lindstrom also has high regard for Reichhardt and Longlet's service.

“The support from Scott and the parent company has been wonderful. Their attention to detail and striving for perfection in their product are very apparent and important to my farming operation.” Lindstrom said.

Longlet currently has eight systems operating in eastern North Dakota and 20 systems installed in total in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota.

For more information contact Longlet by calling 701.967.8369 or 701.261.9510 or by email at info@reichhardt.com. Additional information is also available on the website http://www.reichhardt.

com.

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