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"tiny, automated combines" I've seriously wanted to explore this for a long time. When current combine technology can cost well into the half million dollar ra

"tiny, automated combines" I've seriously wanted to explore this for a long time. When current combine technology can cost well into the half million dollar range, it seems ripe for disruption. Chicago is out of my way (and I already own farmland of my own anyway) – its capital costs that have held me back. But if anyone actually takes on this project, I'll be watching very closely.

makmanalp 12y ago
One cool related topic is how much agricultural automation gear costs. For a robo project we used a trimble GPS with sub-meter resolution that cost around 2k, but honestly I feel like with a local radio base-station and a gps you could probably come up with something similarly accurate and cheap for way less money! I'm sure when it comes to controlling the combines automatically, it gets even more exorbitant.
- toomuchtodo 12y ago
  http://hackaday.com/2013/08/05/centimeter-level-precision-gps-for-500/ http://hackaday.com/2013/08/05/centimeter-level-precision-gp...
- randomdata 12y ago
  Definitely. We looked into adding RTK autosteer to our tractors a few years ago. It was about $10,000 to get into a full autosteer system per machine, plus recurring costs for the correction data, which seems to be the preferred way to go. That just to drive straight. The systems that can handle turning on the headlands or synchronize between machines run even higher, at least at the time. We decided it wasn't feasible for our operation and haven't reevaluated. However, if you can completely replace an operator as a tiny autonomous combine could, costs of that magnitude become negligible.
jqm 12y ago
This article shows some small scale grain harvesting devices. They also sell small scale grain drills, mini-balers and some cool looking walk behind tractors. http://www.ferrari-tractors.com/smallscale.htm http://www.ferrari-tractors.com/smallscale.htm But for a very small patch of an acre or less, it seems that a scythe, then hand threshing with a stick and a tarp might be the way to go. That's how they did it for thousands of years. I understand it goes pretty fast if you learn how to use a scythe. The tools would cost around a hundred bucks and you would get a bit of exercise during harvest season at least. http://www.amazon.com/Seymour-SN-9-Aluminum-Scythe-Snath/dp/B00002NCFV http://www.amazon.com/Seymour-SN-9-Aluminum-Scythe-Snath/dp/...

makmanalp 12y ago

One cool related topic is how much agricultural automation gear costs. For a robo project we used a trimble GPS with sub-meter resolution that cost around 2k, but honestly I feel like with a local radio base-station and a gps you could probably come up with something similarly accurate and cheap for way less money! I'm sure when it comes to controlling the combines automatically, it gets even more exorbitant.

toomuchtodo 12y ago
http://hackaday.com/2013/08/05/centimeter-level-precision-gps-for-500/ http://hackaday.com/2013/08/05/centimeter-level-precision-gp...
randomdata 12y ago
Definitely. We looked into adding RTK autosteer to our tractors a few years ago. It was about $10,000 to get into a full autosteer system per machine, plus recurring costs for the correction data, which seems to be the preferred way to go. That just to drive straight. The systems that can handle turning on the headlands or synchronize between machines run even higher, at least at the time. We decided it wasn't feasible for our operation and haven't reevaluated. However, if you can completely replace an operator as a tiny autonomous combine could, costs of that magnitude become negligible.

jqm 12y ago

This article shows some small scale grain harvesting devices. They also sell small scale grain drills, mini-balers and some cool looking walk behind tractors. http://www.ferrari-tractors.com/smallscale.htm http://www.ferrari-tractors.com/smallscale.htm But for a very small patch of an acre or less, it seems that a scythe, then hand threshing with a stick and a tarp might be the way to go. That's how they did it for thousands of years. I understand it goes pretty fast if you learn how to use a scythe. The tools would cost around a hundred bucks and you would get a bit of exercise during harvest season at least. http://www.amazon.com/Seymour-SN-9-Aluminum-Scythe-Snath/dp/B00002NCFV http://www.amazon.com/Seymour-SN-9-Aluminum-Scythe-Snath/dp/...