3 ms·

This is not the USDOD GPS. This is Inmarsat's DGPS service that provides ~1-2cm accuracy. Which, if you're driving between rows of produce can be the difference

by yardie 4y ago

This is not the USDOD GPS. This is Inmarsat's DGPS service that provides ~1-2cm accuracy. Which, if you're driving between rows of produce can be the difference between harvesting or crushing crops. [0]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Differential_GPS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Differential_GPS

polishdude20 4y ago
What's stopping farmers form getting better local location determination by using RTK stations around their field instead?
- cellularmitosis 4y ago
  Certain manufacturers fighting against right-to-repair certainly stymies potential third-party hacks / upgrades, such as your suggestion.
- RandallBrown 4y ago
  John Deere appears to sell an RTK system. https://www.deere.com/en/technology-products/precision-ag-technology/guidance/mobile-rtk/ https://www.deere.com/en/technology-products/precision-ag-te...
- nas 4y ago
  Nothing insurmountable. You need a receiver that supports RTK. Typically the hardware receiver can do it but you have pay to unlock the functionality (typically about 3000 USD per device). You need an RTK base station (or one you can use that's not too far away) and a way to get the correction signal (local radio system or over Internet with cellular data). With DGPS corrections, like you get with the satellite that failed, you get about 10 cm positional accuracy. For dryland crop farming, that's often good enough. It is more accurate than what most human operators can achieve and reduces operator fatigue. So many ag GPS systems are setup to use it out of the box. There are other solutions, in addition to RTK. Trimble has "CenterPoint". There are Omnistar corrections (different sats, better accuracy than DGPS). Novatel has "GLIDE" but I've never seen it in use.
  - rasz 4y ago
    >3000 USD per device) $100 ublox module + accoutrement https://github.com/taroz/TouchRTKStation https://github.com/taroz/TouchRTKStation
- jeffybefffy519 4y ago
  My guess: the tractors are made to support one system - so it’s technically possible but not actually possible due to lock in.

by yardie 4y ago

polishdude20 4y ago

What's stopping farmers form getting better local location determination by using RTK stations around their field instead?

cellularmitosis 4y ago
Certain manufacturers fighting against right-to-repair certainly stymies potential third-party hacks / upgrades, such as your suggestion.
RandallBrown 4y ago
John Deere appears to sell an RTK system. https://www.deere.com/en/technology-products/precision-ag-technology/guidance/mobile-rtk/ https://www.deere.com/en/technology-products/precision-ag-te...
nas 4y ago
Nothing insurmountable. You need a receiver that supports RTK. Typically the hardware receiver can do it but you have pay to unlock the functionality (typically about 3000 USD per device). You need an RTK base station (or one you can use that's not too far away) and a way to get the correction signal (local radio system or over Internet with cellular data). With DGPS corrections, like you get with the satellite that failed, you get about 10 cm positional accuracy. For dryland crop farming, that's often good enough. It is more accurate than what most human operators can achieve and reduces operator fatigue. So many ag GPS systems are setup to use it out of the box. There are other solutions, in addition to RTK. Trimble has "CenterPoint". There are Omnistar corrections (different sats, better accuracy than DGPS). Novatel has "GLIDE" but I've never seen it in use.
- rasz 4y ago
  >3000 USD per device) $100 ublox module + accoutrement https://github.com/taroz/TouchRTKStation https://github.com/taroz/TouchRTKStation
jeffybefffy519 4y ago
My guess: the tractors are made to support one system - so it’s technically possible but not actually possible due to lock in.