OREANDA-NEWS. December 10, 2009. Rostselmash has started to equip combines with GPS auto-driving systems. The first combine ACROS 530 equipped with such system underwent tests and was demonstrated to journalists. Grain combine with “autopilot” may work on the field on a desired route with minimal operator's involvement. Automatic driving system consists of GPS receiver, direction indicator unit and steering assistance device. The system is presumed to be optionally installed on grain combines VECTOR, ACROS and TORUM. Possibility to operate on both GPS and GLONASS signals is being considered.

Auto-driving offers a number of advantages. Firstly, overlapping of cleared areas is excluded which makes it possible to use header width to the maximum, thus increasing harvesting output and saving fuel. Secondly, operator hardly pays attention to steering assistance and may focus on other operations, thus increasing speed and accuracy of work. At last, in case of low visibility (night time or dustiness) combine's performance stays the same.

Auto-driving is an element of the so called “precise farming” which is a complex approach to crops cultivation involving dosated planting of seeds and fertilizers on the basis of soil's agrochemical survey. This technology allows to increase grain production efficiency to the maximum. Development of “precise farming” became possible with popularity of satellite and computer technologies. Besides auto-driving in order for the cycle provided by “precise farming” to be complete combines should be equipped with a system of yield and humidity mapping, because agrochemical analysis is based on electronic map data.

As yearly as today orders for auto-driving system are already accepted by Rostselmash. Combines with mapping systems will be available in the next season after undergoing final tests.