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Tillage Setup

Section I: GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Section II: DESCRIPTION OF SETUP ITEMS

Section III: HOW TO CREATE A TILLAGE CONFIGURATION

Section IV: HOW TO USE A TILLAGE CONFIGURATION

Section I: GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Tillage mode (sometimes called Site Verification) is the method of recording the location and time of a tillage field operation, where the primary activity is logging area and mapping coverage.  Tillage mode allows the Autopilot interface to be used in Tillage operations where no product is applied.

If you wish to record a rate or control a rate while performing a tillage field operation, you must setup an Application Configuration.  See APPLICATION SETUP for details. 
 

Section II: DESCRIPTION OF SETUP ITEMS

What is a Configuration?

A Configuration is simply a Vehicle and Implement combination with appropriate settings for a particular field operation. Configurations provide the convenience of selecting one item at the RUN screen rather than having to select the Vehicle and Implement independently as well as and make their settings at run-time.

Configuration Tab Items:

• Configuration List shows a list of all configurations created.
• Add button initiates the Configuration Wizard to add a configuration to the list.
• Edit Name button allows renaming a configuration in the list.
• Remove button removes a configuration from the list when it is no longer needed.
• Configuration Settings button provides additional settings that are not available in the Configuration Wizard.
• Configuration Information displays information about the configuration that is currently highlighted in the list.
• Calibrate Distance button provides a wizard for calibrating a wheel/track ground speed sensor or radar gun for the highlighted vehicle.
• Speed Input Settings provides the selections for primary and secondary ground speed sources.

To make changes to a configuration, select the configuration in the list by pressing on it. The buttons and settings to the right of the list will apply only to the "highlighted" configuration.

Vehicle Tab Items:

• Vehicle List shows a list of all vehicles created.
• Add button initiates the Vehicle Wizard to add a vehicle to the list.
• Edit Name button allows renaming a vehicle in the list.
• Remove button removes a vehicle from the list when it is no longer needed. (i.e. you sold the vehicle)
• GPS Offsets button configures the location of the GPS antenna relative to the vehicle hitch.
• Vehicle Information displays the vehicle make, model, and vehicle type of the vehicle that is currently highlighted in the list.

To make changes, select the vehicle in the list by pressing on it. The buttons and settings to the right of the list will apply only to the "highlighted" vehicle.

Implement Tab Items:

• Implement List shows a list of all implements created.
• Add button initiates the Implement Wizard to add an implement to the list.
• Edit Name button allows renaming an implement in the list.
• Remove button removes an implement from the list when it is no longer needed. (i.e. you sold the implement)
• Swath Section Offsets button displays a window to configure the location of each swath section (boom sections) relative to the hitch.
• Implement Information displays the full swath and number of swath sections of the implement that is currently highlighted in the list.

To make changes, select the implement in the list by pressing on it. The buttons and settings to the right of the list will apply only to the "highlighted" implement.

Section III: HOW TO SETUP TILLAGE

Create a Tillage Configuration

• Press the Tillage button on the SETUP screen to open Tillage setup.
• Press the ADD button on the Configuration tab to start the Configuration Wizard.

Configuration Wizard Step 1:  Select Vehicle from list.  (If the desired vehicle is not in the list, press NEW to start the Vehicle Wizard). Press NEXT.  

Vehicle Wizard for Tractor, ATV, and Pickup Truck

• Vehicle Wizard Step 1:  Select Vehicle Type.  Press NEXT.
• Vehicle Wizard Step 2:  Enter Vehicle Make and Model.  Press NEXT.
• Vehicle Wizard Step 3:  Enter Vehicle Name.  Press FINISH (returns to Configuration Wizard).

Configuration Wizard Step 2:  Select Implement from list.  (If the desired implement is not in the list, press NEW to start the Implement Wizard). Press NEXT.

• Implement Wizard Step 1:  Select Implement Attachment Method (Rear Drawbar, Rear 3-Pt Hitch, Front Drawbar, Front 3-Pt Hitch).  Press NEXT.
• Implement Wizard Step 2:  Enter Full Swath Width.  Press NEXT.
• Implement Wizard Step 5:  Enter Distance from Hitch to Application Point (where the knives or coulters engage with the ground).  Press NEXT.
• Implement Wizard Step 6:  Enter Implement Name. Press FINISH

Configuration Wizard Step 3:  Select Implement Switch.  Choose whether an implement switch is attached to the implement to trigger area logging status on and off.  If an implement switch is mounted, choose Standard or Reversed polarity from the list.  You can change this later from the Configuration Settings button on the Configuration tab if you find out you selected the wrong setting.  Press NEXT.  

Configuration Wizard Step 4:  Select Ground Speed Source.  (If GPS is selected as primary, then a Backup option is provided if GPS is lost.  Wheels, Tracks, or Radar need to be calibrated to be accurate.  The Calibrate Distance button is on the Configuration tab).  Press NEXT.  

Configuration Wizard Step 5:  Enter Name for Configuration.  (A default name will be created, but can be edited by pressing the Keyboard button).  Press FINISH.

The Configuration that was just created has been added to the Configuration List.  Highlight the Configuration to verify the Configuration Information.  The Vehicle tab will show the Vehicles that have been added.   The Implement tab will show the Implements that have been added.

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Set Vehicle GPS Offsets

Set the location of the antenna relative to the vehicle under the GPS Offsets button on the Vehicle tab.

For Tractor, ATV, Pickup Truck

Under the Antenna tab of the GPS Offsets window, enter the following distances:

• Enter the distance from the rear axle of the vehicle to the antenna.  Select the direction whether the antenna  is IN FRONT of the rear axle or BEHIND it.
• Enter the distance from the centerline of the vehicle to the antenna.  Select the side of the vehicle the antenna is on relative to the centerline of the vehicle (facing forward).  (LEFT or RIGHT)
• Enter the height from the ground to the antenna

Under the Hitch tab of the GPS Offsets window, enter the only the distances that apply:

• Enter the distance from the rear axle to the rear drawbar
• Enter the distance from the rear axle to the rear 3-point hitch
• Enter the distance from the rear axle to the front drawbar
• Enter the distance from the rear axle to the rear 3-point hitch

It is recommended that you mount the GPS antenna in the same position for a given vehicle each time it is transferred from another vehicle.

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Configuration Settings:  Several optional settings are available under the Configuration Settings button including:

• Implement Switch Polarity:  If an Implement Switch is used, depending on its orientation on the implement, it may need to be set to Standard or Reversed.  If there is no Implement Switch, (i.e. you will use the Master Switch button on the RUN screen) then leave this set to None.

Speed Input Settings:  Provides a method to change the Ground Speed Source. 

• Ground Speed Source: Changing the source is allowed after a configuration is created, but it is recommended to change between operations.

Calibrate Distance:  Pressing this button launches the Speed Sensor Calibration wizard.  Follow the steps provided in the wizard.

Section IV: HOW TO USE A TILLAGE CONFIGURATION

RUN

RUN Step 1:  Select Field and Operation.

• Step 1a:  At the RUN screen, Press FIELD.  The Field Operations Wizard will be displayed.  Select the desired Grower, Farm and Field from the pull-down selection.  Press NEXT
• Step 1b:  Select the Tillage Configuration from the Operating Configuration pull-down selection. Press NEXT
• Step 1c:  The final step of the Field Operations Wizard usually is for selecting Product(s).  Since there is no product in Tillage operations, the Product pull-down selection is grayed-out.  Press FINISH.

RUN Step 2:  Select Region.  The Region Selection window will be displayed to confirm the creation of the first Region.  When starting a new operation the Region selection defaults to Region <1>.  The Region name can be edited before pressing ACCEPT.

RUN Step 3:  Start logging. 

• With Implement Switch:  If an Implement Switch has been installed and properly set up, lowering the implement will trigger the display to start logging.  To stop logging, raise the implement.
• Without Implement Switch:  The "Tillage" control tab below the map provides and AREA On/Off button  on the lower-right which allows manual control of area logging.  Press the button to toggle it between OFF and AUTO.  When set to AUTO the status indicator above the button changes to green - you are logging.  When set to OFF, the status indicator changes to red - you are not logging. 
• When using and implement switch, set the button to the AUTO state.  The status indicator will change between green and red to reflect implement position and area logging status.  You can override the area logging status to OFF in instances when you wish not to log when the implement is down.

Note:  For additional record-keeping flexibility, you can create different Regions within the field for this tillage operation.  Press the REGION button and press the NEW button to create another Region.  Press ACCEPT to start a new region after you have entered an optional name.

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Display Items

• Area
• Area Per Hour
• Ground Speed
• Distance

Swath Control

On-Screen Map

Summary Screen

The Summary screen displays a tabular report for a field operation.  The Summary screen can be displayed during data collection to provide a list of each Region total as well as the Field total.  The Summary screen can also be used to review different fields after an operation is completed.