How Is GPS Used in Farming?
Lightbar-guided and automated steering systems help maintain precise swath-to-swath widths. Guidance systems identify an imaginary A-B starting line, curve or circle for parallel swathing using GPS positions and a control module. The module takes into account the swath width of the implement and then uses GPS to guide machines along parallel, curved, or circular evenly spaced swaths. Guidance systems include a display module that uses audible tones or lights as directional indicators for the operator. The guidance system allows the operator to monitor the lightbar to maintain the desired distance from the previous swath. Guidance systems require two principle components: a lightbar or screen, which is essentially an electronic display showing a machine’s deviation from the intended position, and a GPS receiver for locating the position (Figure 1). This receiver must be designed for this purpose and it must operate at a higher frequency (position calculations are usually 5 to 10 times p
