April 1, 2007
Here are automated vehicle and implement steering systems currently available from major manufacturers. Some brands also are available from marketing partners, which are not listed here. In most cases, higher-accuracy systems also require an annual subscription for a satellite GPS signal.
AGCO
Auto-Guide
Accuracy: Submeter, decimeter, sub-1 in. (RTK)
Components: ISO-compliant virtual terminal, self-contained, mobile roof-mounted receiver and antennae, hydraulic kit or steer-by-wire steering interface, RTK base station (RTK systems only)
Price: $10,000 (submeter), $15,000 (decimeter), $30,000+ (RTK with base station)
Plug and play availability: AGCO brand tractors can be ordered from the factory with wiring needed for automated steering systems. AGCO branded tractors are ISO-11783 compliant, which allows a single terminal to monitor tractor, equipment and guidance functions.
Contact your AGCO dealer, call 888/989-8525, visit www.agcocorp.com, or circle 101.
AUTOFARM
AutoFarm RTK AutoSteer
Accuracy: ±1 in.
Components: Cab-mounted touchscreen monitor, roof-mounted receiver and antennae, hydraulic kit or steer-by-wire steering interface, RTK base station
Compatibility: Works on most makes and models of tractors, sprayers, spreaders, and combines
Price: $23,000 to $25,000; with base station, $29,500 to $31,500
AutoFarm DGPS AutoSteer
Accuracy: ±10 to 12 in., ±2 to 4 in.
Components: ATC cab-mounted touch-screen monitor, roof-mounted DGPS receiver and antennae, hydraulic kit or steer-by-wire steering interface
Compatibility: Works on most makes and models of tractors, sprayers, spreaders and combines
Price: $11,000 to $13,000
AutoFarm RighTrac
Accuracy: ±3 in.
Components: ATC cab-mounted touch-screen monitor, roof-mounted receiver and antennae, wheel steering (OnTrac), hydraulic kit or steer-by-wire steering interface, RTK base station
Compatibility: Works on most makes and models of tractors, sprayers, spreaders and combines
Price: $16,500 with OnTrac wheel steering, including base station; $17,500 with hydraulic kit
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Implement Steering
AutoFarm AFTracker
Accuracy: ±1 in.
Components: GPS antenna, wiring harness to cab receiver, Orthman steering coulters
Price: $13,000 (requires AutoFarm RTK AutoSteer)
Contact AutoFarm at 877/947-7327, www.gpsfarm.com, or circle 102.
CASE IH
AFS AccuGuide
Accuracy: ±8 in. (submeter), ±5 in. (decimeter), sub-1 in. (RTK)
Components: Case IH AFS Pro 600 touch-screen monitor, roof-mounted receiver and antennae, RTK base station
Price: 8 in. (submeter), $12,000; 5 in. (decimeter), $14,700; RTK, $20,000 without base station, RTK with base station, $32,000
Plug and play availability: Case IH Magnum and Steiger tractors and Axial-Flow 7010/8010 combines are guidance-ready from the factory. Later this year the Puma series tractor and Axial-Flow 2500 series combines will be added to the guidance-ready lineup. Wiring is ISO-BUS compliant, which allows a single terminal to monitor vehicle, equipment and guidance functions. Case IH dealers also handle automated steering products manufactured by Trimble.
Contact your local Case IH dealer, call 262/636-6011, visit www.caseih.com, or circle 103.
HEMISPHERE GPS
Outback E-Drive
Accuracy: 12 in. or less, 8 in. or less, ±1 in. (RTK)
Components: Outback S or Outback S2, E-Drive hydraulic kit or steer-by-wire steering interface, Baseline HD single-channel RTK base station (RTK systems only)
Compatibility: Vehicle-specific kits are available for more than 500 tractors, combines and self-propelled sprayers.
Price: 12 in., $5,000; 8 in., $7,000; RTK, $15,000
Contact Outback Guidance at 800/247-3808, www.outbackguidance.com, or circle 104.
JOHN DEERE
GreenStar AutoTrac Assisted Steering System
Accuracy: ±13 in., ±4 in., sub-1 in. (RTK)
Components: Original or GreenStar 2 display, StarFire iTC roof-mounted receiver (and antennae with RTK), RTK base station (RTK systems only), AutoTrac activation
Price: AutoTrac SF1 activation (±13 in.), $10,300; AutoTrac SF2 activation (±4 in.), $14,000; AutoTrac RTK activation, $17,000 (includes base station)
Plug and play availability: For model years 2006 and 2007, all John Deere 8030 and 9020 series tractors are AutoTrac ready.
AutoTrac Universal Steering Kit
(Steering Wheel Driven)
Accuracy: ±13 in. or ±4 in. Sub-1 in. (RTK) also is available, but not recommended.
Components: AutoTrac Universal Steering kit, Original or GreenStar 2 display, StarFire iTC roof-mounted receiver (and antennae with RTK), AutoTrac activation
Price: Steering kit, plus SF1 activation (±13 in.), $13,450; steering kit, plus SF2 activation (±4 in.), $17,150; steering kit, plus RTK activation, $20,150
Contact your local John Deere dealer, call 866/993-3373, visit www.johndeereag.com, or circle 105.
NEW HOLLAND
IntelliSteer Auto Steering System
Accuracy: ±6 to 8 in., ±3 to 5 in., ±2 to 4 in., 1 in. (RTK)
Components: IntelliView Plus II color touch-screen display, roof-mounted NH252 GPS receiver and antennae, RTK base station
Price: 6 to 8 in., $12,900; 3 to 5 in. and 2 to 4 in., $14,900; RTK, $20,400, with base station, $32,000
Plug and play availability: TG and TJ series tractors and CR9000 and CX8000 combines are guidance-ready from the factory. Wiring is ISO-BUS compliant, which allows a single terminal to monitor vehicle, equipment and guidance functions. New Holland dealers also handle automated steering products manufactured by Trimble.
Contact New Holland North America at 888/290-7377, www.newholland.com, or circle 106.
RAVEN INDUSTRIES
QuickTrax wheel steering system
Accuracy: Submeter or decimeter
Components: QuickTrax, SmartTrax controller, RGL 600ic lightbar, DGPS receiver (submeter system); QuickTrax, SmartTrax controller, Phoenix 300 GPS receiver, Raven DGPS enhancer and RGL 600ic lightbar (decimeter system)
Compatibility: Kits are available for many models of tractors and sprayers.
Price: Submeter, $7,400; decimeter, $15,780
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SmartTrax and SmartTrax DM Steering Assist
Accuracy: Submeter or decimeter
Components: Hydraulic kit, SmartTrax controller, RGL 600ic lightbar, DGPS receiver (submeter system); hydraulic kit, SmartTrax controller, Phoenix 300 GPS receiver, Raven DGPS enhancer and RGL 600ic lightbar (decimeter system)
Compatibility: Kits are available for many models of tractors and sprayers.
Price: Submeter, $7,900; decimeter, $16,280
Contact Raven Industries at 800/243-5435, www.ravenprecision.com, or circle 107.
TEEJET TECHNOLOGIES
FieldPilot
Accuracy: ±8 to 12 in. or ±4 to 6 in.
Components: Hydraulic kit, Legacy 6000 controller, WAAS GPS receiver (submeter system); hydraulic kit, Legacy 6000 controller, OmniStar HP compatible GPS receiver (decimeter system)
Compatibility: Kits are available for more than 50 tractors and sprayers.
Price: ±8 to 12 in., $10,500; ±4 to 6 in., $14,500
FieldPilot 220
Accuracy: Submeter
Components: Hydraulic kit, controller, Centerline 220 lightbar
Compatibility: Kits are available for sprayer and tractor platforms.
Price: $5,500
Contact Spraying Systems Co. at 217/753-8424, www.teejet.com, or circle 108.
TOPCON POSITIONING SYSTEMS
Topcon ProSteer
Accuracy: Submeter, decimeter, sub-1 in. (RTK)
Components: Hydraulic kit, X20 monitor, and electronic control unit. The submeter system also has a WAAS receiver. The decimeter system also has a Map HP GPS receiver. The RTK system also has a Map HP GPS receiver and Map HP GPS base station.
Compatibility: Kits are available for a range of tractors, sprayers and combines.
Price: Submeter, $13,000 to $16,000; decimeter, $16,000 to $19,000; RTK, $30,000+
Contact Topcon Positioning Systems at 925/245-8300, www.topconpositioning.com, or circle 109.
TRIMBLE
AgGPS EZ-Steer
Accuracy: ±6 to 8 in., ±3 to 5 in., sub-1 in. (RTK)
Components: EZ-Steer kit with Easy Guide Plus lightbar, Easy Guide 500 and antenna, or Easy Guide 500, SN900 radio, and base station (RTK)
Compatibility: Compatible with more than 550 tractors, sprayers and combines
Price: ±6 to 8 in., $5,490; ±3 to 5 in., $9,490; RTK, $28,485, less $12,000 if an RTK network is available
AgGPs AutoPilot
Accuracy: ±6 to 8 in., ±3 to 5 in., sub-1 in. (RTK)
Components: AutoPilot steering system, choice of displays; AutoPilot and choice of Easy Guide 500 or FieldManager display; AutoPilot and choice of Easy Guide 500 or FieldManager display, SN900 radio, base station (RTK)
Compatibility: AutoPilot is compatible with most late-model tractors. Also installs on guidance-ready vehicles.
Price: ±6 to 8 in., $7,500 to $10,000; ±3 to 5 in., $13,000 to $16,000; RTK, $20,000 to $24,000, plus an additional $12,000 for an RTK base station if no Trimble RTK network is available
Implement Steering
TrueTracker Implement Steering
Accuracy: ±1 in.
Components: AgGPS 252 receiver, navigation controller, Orthman steering coulters
Price: $16,995 (two-coulter system) or $18,995 (four-coulter system). Requires AgGPS AutoPilot system.
Contact Trimble at 800/865-7438, visit www.ez-guide.com, or circle 110.
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