AGCO’s new Auto-Guide² fully automatic steering system combines higher performance, great steering accuracy and signal stability with smooth operation and ease of use.

It is available for fitting to a range of Challenger equipment including the MT 700C and MT 800C tracked tractors, the MT600C wheeled machines and the new RoGator 600 Series sprayers. It will also be available for Hesston-built combines from January 2010 as well as future TerraGators.

This completely new, advanced system has been developed by Challenger’s parent company, AGCO in a strategic partnership with Topcon Positioning Systems. Auto-Guide² uses the most advanced technology to provide consistent, precise steering to improve efficiency, work faster in difficult conditions and cut waste.

Auto-Guide² customers will benefit from its use of Topcon’s latest and most advanced Paradigm G3 Universal 72 channel receiver chip. This G3 technology means it can utilise the multi-satellite GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) constellations.

Although the system will initially use only the US Navstar GPS system, in the future it will be also be able to also employ signals from all available satellites in the GPS and GLONASS systems, as well as those from Galileo when it comes on stream in 2013. RTK users will, however, have immediate access to all existing satellites.

Put simply, with its ability to track more satellites, Auto-Guide² offers higher stability and is less susceptible to signal loss than systems that can ‘see’ only one constellation of satellites. This provides more reliable and robust positioning that is less prone to signal losses due to satellite position and shadowing from hills and trees.

“Auto-Guide² builds on the proven benefits of automatic steering’s ability to consistently match up bouts, which maximises in-field efficiency and cuts costs by reducing overlaps and misses,” explains Challenger’s Dorus Van Esch. “The new system offers superior signal stability and uses the very latest technology, sensors and software to improve performance with fast, smooth steering accuracy.”

Auto-Guide² features:

• Fully integrated installation with operation through existing Tractor Management Centre Display (TMC II)
• One-piece Top Dock for quick and easy mounting and transfer between vehicles
• Out of the box operation with all OmniSTAR correction signals (subscription applies)
• Latest 72 channel receiver with G3 capability for optimum signal stability
• RTK compatible, with Snap in Module and the ability to receive signals from GPS and GLONASS
• Smooth, accurate steering response using the very latest electronic advances
• Easy to use operation in ‘basic’ or ‘advanced’ modes
• Integral ISObus compatible Task Controller for variable rate application control and mapping

Integrated advanced technology

Auto-Guide² is fully integrated into Challenger tractors and applicator vehicles and is set-up and operates through the existing TMC II Display. It provides high performance, is simple to use and is designed to industry standards for optimum compatibility.

All the Challenger machines, to which it can be fitted, come specified as Auto-Guide²-ready, factory-fitted with the necessary wheel angle sensor, electro-hydraulic steering valve, control unit and pre-installed wiring harness for the roof-mounted Auto-Guide² Top Dock.

All these well-proven components are manufactured by Topcon. This ensures complete compatibility, with all sensors and software optimised to deliver the highest performance.

One-piece TopDock antenna

The new rugged, one-piece Auto-Guide² TopDock is designed for quick and easy mounting and transfer between vehicles. Users simply fit the unit to the roof mount and plug it in – that’s it.

The TopDock houses the GNSS antenna, which can receive the GPS L2C, GPS l5, GLONASS C/A L2 and future Galileo signals. It also includes the 72-channel GNSS receiver, which allows the system to track all visible positioning satellites at any time and location.

Lastly, it also contains the very latest technology, highly accurate, six-axis inertial sensors, which are a digital version of accelerometers and a gyroscope. These are used to determine the tractor’s direction and position as well as produce signals to compensate for working on slopes.

The ‘firmware’ comes configured for operation with full authorisation codes for use with OmniSTAR VBS, XP and HP correction signals. TopDock is ready to use straight from the box, with differential correction provided users subscribe to one of these signals. It is also able to work with EGNOS correction signals.

Snap-in to RTK accuracy

For those wishing to employ the most precise positioning signals, the clever TopDock design incorporates a slot for simply snapping in the RTK Radio Module.

This houses the FM radio transceiver and additional high grade inertial sensors required for this highly accurate correction source. The radio is matched to the local base station’s frequency and channel, which secures the signal for authorised users only and reduces the possibility of interference.

When operating with RTK Auto-Guide² will receive signals from the GPS and GLONASS satellite networks and, because it ‘sees’ more satellites, it provides enhanced positioning stability with less vulnerability to GNSS signal loss.

The TopDock itself can also be used as a portable base station to transmit RTK correction signals. Once configured it will transmit the correction data to other Auto-Guide² units within range.

Auto-Guide² is designed to be as flexible and compatible as possible. It operates to the industry standard RTCM protocol for RTK correction data.

Smooth steering with quick reactions

Auto-Guide² combines the most advanced sensor technology with sophisticated software to produce outstanding signal stability, steering accuracy and performance. It will also engage automatic steering at an angle of up to 85° to the wayline.

The system benefits from rapid developments in the computer game and mobile phone sectors, which employ inertial sensors capable of detecting fine movements and acceleration very quickly and accurately. This is called MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) technology.

The six-axis inertial sensors in the TopDock monitor the movement, direction and angle of the vehicle to compensate for working on hillsides. The data is also used to predict the approaching path and smooth out any sudden jumps in position that can occur with satellite positioning systems. Even higher grade inertial sensors are installed on the RTK Snap-in Module. These provide even greater accuracy and performance (the standard sensors are not used during RTK operation).

Further improving performance is the use of the latest, most sophisticated mathematic calculations – called algorithms – used by the software to interpret the data. This produces fast reactions and smooth operation as well as predicting the future position to maintain an even path.

A memory provides instant ‘cold start-ups’, when the parking position is memorised before shutting down. Next time it’s used the system asks the operator if the vehicle is in the same place and if yes, it returns instantly to the same accuracy level as before.

All GPS-based steering systems need to ‘warm up’ from a cold start; taking a fair amount of time to hone the accuracy of the positioning. This ‘cold start’ system saves time, allowing machines to go straight back to work at the same accuracy that has been accumulated during the previous working day.

Easy to use in ‘basic’ or ‘advanced’ modes

Like all superior designs, Auto-Guide² hides its sophistication behind very easy operation – from simple mounting and connection of the TopDock through to straight-forward operation via the standard TMC II Display.

Basic Mode couldn’t be easier: Press ‘Go’ and an on-screen ‘Wizard’ walks the operator through the guidance set-up. All the relevant information is clearly displayed on the screen, which also displays a large, moving map.

In Advanced Mode operators are able to name and recall stored implements, as well as configure, memorise and call back past Way Lines. The short-cut keys on the terminal can also be pre-set by the user for particular tasks.

ISObus operation and Task Controller compatible

Auto-Guide² can integrate with an ISObus Task Controller, which standardises communication between implements. This stores information generated by the tractor and implement and, with position information, can create maps with GTA300/400 and other compatible farm management software.

Information is transferred simply to the farm PC via a USB stick, or SD card slot on controllers used by Challenger.