Smart operation for the whole chain of cultivation management
8th October 2021
Elliot Haines, of ERH Services Ltd, first came across the FJ Dynamics AutoSteering Kit when he was looking for a system for his own compact tractor, and was so impressed
Elliot Haines, of ERH Services Ltd, first came across the FJ Dynamics AutoSteering Kit when he was looking for a system for his own compact tractor, and was so impressed with it, he became the official UK dealer earlier this year.
Since becoming an authorised dealer of the FJD AutoSteering Kit, Mr Haines says 25 kits have been sold and are working very well. Described as the ‘new brain’ of agri- robots, the kit can be fitted to any make of tractor and offers smart and efficient operations for a wide range of farm machines. Information provided by sensor modules and GNSS ensures that agricultural machines operate accurately in various working environments.
Mr Haines initially studied Agriculture at Writtle College but after a year’s travelling became a commercial helicopter pilot, spending 20 years mainly flying offshore to gas rigs in the North Sea, before working for JCB, the East Anglian Air Ambulance and finally flying from Beccles to wind turbines in the North Sea in support of wind energy.
During this time, Mr Haines was also running his own paddock maintenance contracting business and stumbled upon the FJD Autosteer earlier in 2021, as he was looking for a system for his compact tractor for spraying. He was so impressed with it he began importing it and so far it has been very well received by customers.
The system works day and night, without fear of rain or dust, and no matter how bad the working environment is. FJ Dynamics has also developed a ‘Running Mode’ function for situations in which the RTK signal is disconnected, in order to meet farmers’ needs in certain specific conditions.
The kit consists of a control terminal, electric steering wheel, sensor module and GNSS antenna. The control terminal is a combination of a display and a controller. The 10.1in HD high brightness screen is clearly visible even when there is strong sunlight. The self-developed electric steering wheel with highly-integrated torque can be used in any kind of environment, says Mr Haines.
The sensor module is integrated with multiple sensors to ensure high-precision operations and working stability when the vehicle is running. The GNSS antenna is capable of positioning with high accuracy and able to receive data on longitude, latitude and direction. The signal is relatively strong and stable.
It can automatically adjust the direction in which the vehicle is travelling with operational accuracy up to 2.5cm, using GPS, GLONASS, Beidou and GALILEO satellite signals, combined with a self-developed high-torque water- proof and dust-proof motor. This kit also uses sensor fusion, consisting of satellite navigation, inertial navigation and computer vision to control the steering wheel, so that the vehicle can drive automatically in a straight line.
