American-based Raven Industries has long been known for its contributions to precision agriculture, from cloud-based data management to guidance and steering applications. The company has also worked on spray application, recently unveiling its Autoboom XRT boom height control with simultaneous ground and canopy detection.
“We’ve been in the boom height control business for 14 to 15 years, but this is a new innovation that we think is much different,” says Gary Esselink, product marketing specialist with Raven Industries.
The product uses radar sensing technology, which allow for longer distance sensing, and the ability to mount the sensors right into the framework of the boom, without worries of interference by spray mist.
Beyond the obvious benefits of preventing damage to the booms, Esselink says the technology keeps spray application consistent.
“Because too many times when you put the booms too high, the product or the spray tends to drift off into the atmosphere,” “Or if the boom starts going down too low, you get the crop too close, and you get inadequate coverage or you also burn the crop.”
The system also uses a controller mounted to the side of the machine, which senses the roll of the chassis, and sends a message back to the boom. “So it becomes more of a ‘proactive’ type of sensing than ‘reactive.'”
RealAgriculture’s Jessika Guse caught up to Raven Industries’ Gary Esselink at Canada’s Farm Progress Show, for an overview of the AutoBoom XRT, from its benefits above ultrasonic sensing, to its centre rack stability technology:
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