Lightbar DGPS Guidance Leads The Way

For the ultimate in sprayer guidance, team up DGPS guidance with today's new lightbar guidance technology. Then say good-bye to foam markers, flags or whatever else you were using to ark spray swaths. You can even forget about having to stop spraying when it gets too dark to see where you've been... which is often the time the winds die down and spraying is at its best.

Actually, the concept is very simple. In addition to a compact control console, which houses the operation switches and cabling, the system uses a slimline navigation display, commonly refereed to as a "smart" Lightbar Guidance unit to direct the operator. With each swatch through the field, lights on the guidance units, which is mounted on the hood for easy, peripheral viewing, instruct the operator to drive right or left in response to the DGPS signal. With each successive pass, the system calculates a parallel, contour or headland swath that covers the field without overlaps.

Multi-Use Versatility

While lightbar guidance technology has found its largest niche in the crop spraying industry, this unique navigation option can be used in a wide variety of tractor and implement operations. It can also be used independently, or as a complement to a current Fieldstar Precision Agriculture System.

In fact, if you already have DGPS at 5 Hz and a Fieldstar Precision Agriculture System, you can add the lightbar option for the price of the lightbar package only. FIELDSTAR already includes everything you'll need to run this innovative guidance option.

Similarly, it you already have a Navigation package (Lightbar and DGPS) on a Willmar or Spra-Coupe crop sprayer, you can easily upgrade to a Fieldstar Precision Agriculture System - which offers data logging, variable-rate application and mapping - at minimal cost, using the existing DGPS receiver and antenna.

FIELDSTAR even offers a "Trail" feature, which illustrates and records all sprayer movements on the DataTOUCH screen. Like the proverbial trail of bread crumbs, the Trail feature shows where you've sprayed, and marks where you stopped when it comes time to refill, allowing you return to the exact spot when spraying resumes. The Trail feature is also effective with planting, harvesting or other applications without the Lightbar Guidance option.

The Benefits Are Equally Bright

In the short time that Lightbar technology has been available, customers and proponents have seen a number of benefits of using DGPS-based navigation.

• Chemical savings on square fields and irregular shaped fields.

• The operator can drive faster using a lightbar guidance system than with a foam marker.

• Fewer skips and overlaps than with conventional methods.

• A special mapping function shows you what area has been sprayed and marks the spot to restart when refilling the sprayer.

• Increased flexibility and ease of moving the lightbar unit and DGPS antenna from one implement to another.

• With high acreage, the savings on foam solution alone can make the annual payment.

• Extending the day by one hour into darkness means more acres per day.

• Differential GPS at a fast 5 Hz output provides accurate guidance in all light and weather conditions.