Based in the San Joaquin Valley of central California, USA, GUSS Automation develops and manufactures autonoumous orchard and herbicide sprayers that leverage highly advanced sensors, satellite mapping, communications, and electronic controls.
Precision agriculture help fight food shortage
As the global population increases and resources become even more scarce, the need for efficient, cost-effective, and precise agricultural management is vital to meet growing food demand.
According to the World Economic Forum, the global food situation is critical, with over 2 billion people suffering from malnutrition and the projection that 60% more food is needed to feed the global population by 2050. In addition, current agricultural growing and harvesting methods are inefficient. In fact, agriculture accounts for 70% of the world’s water consumption and 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Precision Agriculture can help address these inefficiencies, reduce waste, and streamline production.
The challenge
Working closely with Scanreco’s longtime System Integrator, Hawe Hydraulik (Clackamas, OR), on hydraulics and electronic controls, GUSS developed a system of controls and software that autonomously guide the vehicles row-by-row and apply water or herbicide with waste-reducing precision and accuracy.
However, while GUSS vehicles are autonomous, a human operator must perform certain tasks in a typical deployment. For instance, an operator must remove the vehicle from over-the-road transportation trailers and position it in the correct starting position to work a field. Additionally, an operator may have to move alongside and control the vehicle in certain circumstances because the sprayers lack a cab or steering wheel for an operator.
The solution
This is where Scanreco Radio Remote-Control Technology comes into play. Working in collaboration with engineers from GUSS and Hawe, Scanreco developed a custom system that integrates via the vehicle’s master control panel and allows for wireless human control, monitoring, and deployment.
The system includes a Scanreco Mini Joystick Transmitter and a G3 CAN Receiver. Although the Mini Joystick transmitter can accommodate up to three separate joysticks, the GUSS system is configured with a single joystick and an array of easy-to-access toggle switches.
Anywhere a master controller is already present, the G3 CAN receiver can be added to the existing machine controls. In addition to its ability to receive and transmit CAN messages via 2.4 GHz radio frequency, the rugged and reliable receiver also withstands the vibrations and harsh environments of a typical orchard deployment.
The Mini Joystick transmitter with one joystick, six switches and customized firmware became the optimal solution for Guss.
Requirements and solutions
Customized and functional systems
Based in the San Joaquin Valley of central California, USA, GUSS Automation develops and manufactures autonoumous orchard and herbicide sprayers that leverage highly advanced sensors, satellite mapping, communications, and electronic controls.
These vehicles also use LiDAR combined with GPS for accurate maneuvering in fields and orchards. Vehicle sensors and software enable the vehicles to control speed and water/herbicide application under orchard and vineyard canopies. A single operator can monitor multiple GUSS machines from a vehicle, office, or home while the nurse truck supplies the spray product when the vehicle signals for a refill.
This automated farming ecosystem results in significant labor savings and efficiencies. Indeed, GUSS Automation represents a great leap forward in Precision Agriculture, allowing many more crops to be sprayed autonomously. Its design makes it perfect for vineyards, high-density orchards, berries, hops, and other high-value crops.
