An AgWeb.com Farm Equipment Special John Deere is launching its new guidance system for corn harvesting— in time for use during the 2008 harvest. Combines equipped with John Deere’s new AutoTrac™ RowSense™ will help producers more easily navigate down the row at optimal harvesting speeds and can help them maneuver their combine around curves, through waterways, or weedy areas.
“AutoTrac Row Sense is the next step to pinpoint accuracy in corn harvesting,” says Laura Robson, senior marketing representative, John Deere Ag Management Solutions. “This new system works by integrating GPS data from the StarFire™ Receiver with mechanical feeler data from new row sensors located on the corn head.”
According to the company’s new product announcement, steering is handled by the AutoTrac system while the cornhead, with RowSense, makes small adjustments to keep the machine on the row to maximize harvest, even in down corn. “This system also helps reduce operator fatique,” explains Robson. “The operator does not have to make constant steering adjustments and can focus on header and separator performance, obstacles in the field, and make adjustments for varying crop conditions. The overall result is a more productive harvest with less stress and fatigue for the operator!”
The RowSense corn head sensing system actually feels the base of the corn stalk and ensures that the operator stays on the row without having to manually steer the machine.
Waterways are also handled easily because the combine is able to efficiently navigate across the grassy waterway strips, in a straight line, and move smoothly back into the row without any operator adjustment.
