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MARKER LT
For Techno-farmers
No, this isn't a new "extreme tractor" video game, or
a cornfield simulator... not quite, anyway! In fact, this
computer and toadstool-shaped receiver are an all-new
GPS satellite guidance system for tractors.
Start your engines!
Imagine yourself facing a field stretching as far away
as the eye can see. There you are, at the wheel of your
tractor, with no reference points, and you have to drive
in a straight line as you spread your fertilizer. Not
easy!
Now, thanks to GPS technology, a new computer system plots
the equivalent of a yellow line down the highway
on the farmer's screen.
Keeping to the straight and narrow
At the start of the day, the farmer defines a starting
line by driving the tractor along it. For the rest of
the time in that field, the computer keeps him parallel
to this reference line. It shows the position of
the tractor, to within one metre of the line it should
be following. He can correct his route almost without
having to look out of the cab!
Too much, or not enough?
In farming, precision is essential. Farmers have to make
sure they don't spread chemicals twice in the same spot
(overdosing), but also be sure that they haven't missed
any spots. The GPS location system improves the efficiency
of farm machinery by 20% to 30%, with considerable benefits
for agriculture and the environment.
Thanks!
The Marker LT is on loan from Cultiva, an Innotag
division.
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