Boom Height Control Extends Trimble’s Solution for Self-Propelled Sprayers

Trimble has added boom height conF trol for self-propelled sprayers as the latest feature of its Field-IQ crop input control system. Farmers that use the Field-IQ solution with boom height control will be able to:

• Automatically adjust the height of booms with ultrasonic sensors that measure the distance between ground or crop canopy to evenly apply material.
• Minimize environmental impact by eliminating off-target applications of products, which can help protect the health of neighboring crops.

Controlling up to 48 sections, the Field-IQ system varies input application rates using prescription maps to save money, increase yields, keep records of what is applied, and now automate the height of the boom. Self-propelled sprayers require an advanced level of automation due to their increasingly larger booms and the speed at which sprayers travel through the field. As a result, boom height control plays a key role in: reducing operator fatigue by eliminating the need for manual boom operation; preventing damage to the boom by automatically raising it above field obstacles; and by providing a more precise product application through automating boom height adjustments as needed.

“Trimble is focused on providing a complete precision agriculture solution to help farmers manage their unique operational needs,” said Micah Eidem, market manager for Trimble’s Agriculture Division. “By adding boom height control to our Field-IQ system, customers can now select their choice of correction service, steering component, and flow and application modules to create a comprehensive precision agriculture solution for their self-propelled sprayer.”

Trimble boom height control is expected to be available in January of 2013.

Boom height control will initially be available on the Trimble CFX-750 display and is the latest addition to Trimble’s Field-IQ system which includes section control, variable rate application and advanced seed monitoring.