FARM GROUP "THE FUTURE OF FARMING" ARC Automation Research Corporation
THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY HAS MANY CHALLENGES Increasing equipment costs Unable to repair the equipment Real storage of qualified labor Emerging soil use problems Emerging chemical restrictions ARC Automation Research Corporation Finding better farming methods
WHY HAS INDUSTRY FAILED WITH AUTOMATION PROGRAMS ARG began studying in 1999 Ag equipment and methods 13 years of study and design 107 man-years of design effort "Didn t understand the problem" ARC Automation Research Corporation A fail-safe integrated system
THE NEED FOR REAL VEHICLE AUTONOMY Autonomous vehicle projects Need to integrate the system Know what is truly happening Know what needs to be done Truly know where it is going "A integrated guidance system"
NEED A FAIL SAFE GUIDANCE TECHNOLOGY Expensive to purchase Causes many accidents FCC compliance order Secondary use privileges "Listen before transmit" Can be busy for minutes "Can t provide failsafe data"
NEED A FAIL SAFE GUIDANCE TECHNOLOGY
"NEED A INTEGRATED GUIDANCE SYSTEM" 1. A fail safe positioning system 2. A fail safe control system ARC 3. A true self diagnostic system 4. A true self managing system 5. A very very reliable system 6. A very economical system
CURRENT GUIDANCE TECHNOLOGY 32 GPS slow orbiting satellites 2 Geostationary satellites RTK UHF correction stations GPS/RTK is far too complex GPS subject to solar flares Cause ionosphere reflection RTK - local radio operations Local UHF signal interference
AUTOMATION RESEARCH CORPORATION ARG eight year design effort "Integrated guidance system" ARC Vehicle must never leave track Must constantly manage itself All I/O ops must be verified APSI Area positioning system - APS
APS POSITIONING TECHNOLOGY APS must be self calibrating Developed CQ-Calibration A real solution for clock drift Recalibrates after every cycle A distance verification method "Safe: Knows where it is
2012 APS POSITIONING SYSTEMS INC Must be completely failsafe Developed PQ-Angulation Use four master transponders Sixteen way communication A positive verification method "Everyone knows its position"
APS Coverage Cell Up to 100 sq mile APS cell Handle hundreds of vehicles APS Up to 10 miles APS Works flat or hilly terrain Public radio frequency band Up to 10 miles APS Cell 100 sq miles 64,000 acres Solar power transponders APS APS Very accurate technology
ARC DECIDED TO SETUP AUTONOMOUS TRACTOR CORP ARC formed ATC in Jan 2012 Study technology available ATC formed ATC Research ARC Automation Research Corporation Continue ARG design efforts Build & test the technologies Build & test prototype units
WITH A INTEGRATED GUIDANCE SYSTEM AVAILABLE ARC
DESIGN INTEGRATED MODULAR EQUIPMENT A fail- safe integrated system A failsafe guidance system Monitor complete drive system A real fail-safe control system Low cost flexible construction Diesel-electric power system
200HP RUGGED SELF CONTAINED WHEEL MOTOR A very rugged wheel motor Variable Frequency Drive VFD inside the wheel motor VFD "must be oil cooled Wheel Motor Motor bearings are oil lubed Planetary gears are oil cooled
2012 THE AUTONOMOUS AT400 TRACTOR Displayed at AG Shows 100,000+ people came Autonomous tractors Autonomous implements Self propelled implements Not tractors to pull things
DESIGN FLEXIBLE MODULAR PLATFORM Self propelled implements Flexible modular platform Interchangeable implements Front mounted implements Rear mounted implements Platform mounted implements
SELF-PROPELLED IMPLEMENT INNOVATION AUTONOMOUS SELF PROPELLED GRAIN TRANSPORT
MODULAR SELF-PROPELLED IMPLEMENT INNOVATION Flexible modular design Modular Shedder Easy interchangeability Electrically powered Electrically controlled Independent suspension Easily transportable Top View On Front Back A low cost modular solution Tiller Fertilizer - Planter
AUTONOMOUS HARVEST INNOVATION AUTONOMOUS SELF PROPELLED DIESEL ELECTRIC COMBINE
AUTONOMOUS SPRAYSHIP SUPPORT Fast easy transport system A simple support trailer 3 Auto docking stations Automatic reloading support Field surveillance drone Twin spray drones 700 gallon support tank A complete spray system
AUTONOMOUS AERIAL SPRAY DRONE A small robotic aerial drone Highly maneuverable drone Diesel electric powered Multiple vectoring fans Small size-simple support Flexible application patterns
THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY HAS MANY SOLUTIONS Decrease equipment costs Able to repair the equipment No need for qualified labor Easy to transport equipment New methods to use the soil New ways to apply chemicals ARC Automation Research Corporation Develop new farming methods Autonomous technologies
AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGY IS REALLY HERE ARC