VIDEO: Croplands WEEDit goes driverless

Spraying equipment specialist Croplands has announced its collaboration with autonomous systems expert autonoTRAC to combine its WEEDit optical spot sprayer with the PhantomDrive - an autonomous, driverless platform kit that can be added on to current model tractors with CVT transmission.

Dubbed the WEEDit PhantomDrive, the revolutionary system will officially be unveiled at the upcoming CRT FarmFest field days in Toowoomba, that will run this year from June 6 to 8. Croplands will be running demos of the system over the three days of the event.

Croplands' tried and tested WEEDit spot spraying technology was adopted from Europe five years ago and has been a big hit with local farmers since, the company says.

The WEEDit spot spraying technology works by detecting and getting rid of weeds in a fallow paddock. It features sensors that recognise active chlorophyll present in living plants, which will then send a signal to a solenoid to activate the correct nozzle as it passes over the target weed – hence minimising the amount of herbicide that is applied to bare ground.

Croplands says the system has been successful in helping farmers reduce expenditure on chemicals, combat hard to kill weeds, lower weed seed banks and retain soil moisture.

Over the years, Croplands has successfully engineered spray systems that incorporate the WEEDit system which are able to withstand rigorous Australian broadacre conditions.

"Making the WEEDit autonomous was the next logical step for us with this product and we see it suiting medium to large scale farmers trying to get more efficiency into their operation either by giving themselves more time for other tasks around the farm or through better utilisation of their existing workforce," says Croplands Northern Regional Manager, Jeremy Rennick, who was heavily involved in the project.

Croplands says the WEEDit PhantomDrive will allow farmers to do more, at a higher level of accuracy, with less time – hence helping reduce fatigue and save operation costs.

The company is expecting existing toolbar owners to be first in line to upgrade to the autonomous platform.

The WEEDit PhantomDrive can be accessed remotely on any smart phone, tablet or computer with internet access. It monitors both tractor and sprayer, and any issues with either will be alerted to the operator immediately through the warning system.

It has weather station capabilities for monitoring environmental conditions at the site of application, and the system will stop operation if preset weather parameters are triggered.

The Croplands WEEDit PhantomDrive also incorporates a collision avoidance system, to eliminate any accidents on farm with people, animals or foreign objects.

The PhantomDrive's creator, Luke Schelosky, says the platform is not just about making the tractor autonomous, but it is a fully integrated system which takes into consideration both tractor and implement.

“We understood that an autonomous tractor by itself is simply a novelty so we had to provide a truly integrated system that not only gives excellent autonomous performance but also monitors and works in conjunction with the implement.

"Things like an on board weather station, SMS warning system for both the tractor and implement, tyre pressure monitoring and the ability to successfully steer around obstacles in the paddock were all critical in making the system a success.”

Croplands says the WEEDit PhantomDrive can work 24 hours a day, weather conditions permitting. Operators can also control the system to travel slower and improve chemical application if required.

"PhantomDrive relieves farmers from spending long hours on farm machinery – it will take farming to new levels of efficiency and productivity," Schelosky says.

Croplands released the WEEDit PhantomDrive to its local dealer network in late May and says many were impressed by the new platform.

"Although slightly sceptical at first, we’ve been impressed with what was shown to us and believe that we now have a system we can take to the market," says Black Truck & Ag's Michael O'Hara, who attended the launch.

"I particularly like the idea of it being mounted to an existing tractor platform, making the unit a lot more versatile for the owner as it can be used for other jobs on the farm when not being used as a spot sprayer."