AutoPath™

AutoPath™ software gathers row location data during planting for future use by AutoPath

Creating and managing guidance lines in standing crops can be difficult and time consuming. John Deere exclusive AutoPath tackles these challenges by creating guidance lines using the actual location of each crop row.

AutoPath requires data that is documented during the “source operation,” which is the planting or tillage and application pass. Using this information, AutoPath can generate future guidance lines. During the source operation, the crop row locations are documented and saved in the John Deere Operations Center™ application.

The source operation can be:

• A planting pass used for later tillage, application, and harvest passes
• A pre-planting application or row-based tillage pass used for a subsequent planting pass – for example, using AutoPath for planting after strip tillage
  • Pre-plant application or tillage passes cannot be used as a source operation for later tillage, application, or harvest passes. 

During the source operation, an implement-mounted receiver records the exact location of each crop row, as applied.

• This data builds a map of every crop row.
• AutoPath uses the map to create accurate guidance lines for subsequent field operations.
• Source operation equipment requirements and compatibility information is available here.

After the source operation is completed, AutoPath automatically creates these guidance lines for the entire field for later passes. These guidance lines cover:

• External boundaries
• Internal boundaries
• Headlands
• Crop rows

With AutoPath, you get to work quickly and confidently using accurate guidance lines based on the crop row location.

R4030 Self-Propelled Sprayer operating in standing crop

Setting up guidance lines in standing crops is challenging. It takes time to properly setup and fine-tune guidance lines, especially in irregularly shaped fields. Rushing through this process can lead to crop damage or mistakes that cut into your bottom line. Because of this, many operators choose to drive the field manually or operate slower than needed.

The AutoPath™ system eliminates this frustration and reduces setup time, getting you into the field quickly and more accurately.

Using the location of every crop row in the field as it was planted, AutoPath quickly and accurately creates a set of guidance lines for the entire field. You get to work quickly, staying between the rows and off the crop.

Irregular boundaries complicate creation of guidance lines

Row crops are rarely simple, straight lines. Fields often have irregular boundaries. Planting around water holes, waterways, or terraces adds complexity. These challenges are easily overcome with the AutoPath™ system. No matter the complexity of your field, AutoPath quickly and automatically generates guidance lines, letting you operate efficiently. With guidance lines for the entire field, you can use AutoTrac™ automated steering along all crop rows, including field boundaries, headlands, and obstacles that were planted around.

Spraying in standing crop

Spraying in standing crops is a challenge. Manually driving between rows is very difficult and there is a good chance of some level of crop damage. Creating accurate guidance lines for standing crops isn’t always easy, and even when done properly, there is still a possibility of crop damage that lowers your yield at harvest.

Using the exact location of each crop row, the AutoPath™ system automatically creates guidance lines that keep your machine between the rows, even around curves. Each pass follows the rows as they were planted. This reduces the risk of crop damage and allows you to maximize overall yield.

Crop damaged by sprayer tires

Driving over crop during spraying reduces yield potential. When spraying at higher speeds, even a few short seconds of driving over crop can cause measurable yield losses. For example, in higher yielding corn, every second off the line can lead to 17.6 L (0.5 bu) or more in loss. Over the course of a day, the amount of damaged crop can add up fast, which impacts your bottom line.

AutoPath allows you to set up quickly and run confidently in standing crop. This protects yield potential and allows you to get more done each day.

Upgrade row-crop equipment one piece at a time with AutoPath™ system

Increasing the size of row-crop equipment can be expensive. Traditionally, row-crop equipment is size matched. As an example, purchasing a larger planter could require a larger corn head to have the same number of rows.
 

With AutoPath, you have flexibility when purchasing or upgrading equipment.

• AutoPath automatically creates guidance lines based on the width of each piece of equipment.
  • This works even if equipment widths differ from the planter width.
• By using a map of crop rows that’s created during planting, pre-planting tillage, or application, AutoPath creates guidance lines wherever they are needed for the operation at hand.
• It’s easy to change equipment width during spraying or harvest.
  • Simply enter the new track spacing and AutoPath automatically creates a new series of guidance lines based on that width.

AutoTrac™ Implement Guidance increases planting accuracy

For the ultimate in spraying and harvesting performance, maximize your implement receiver investment by adding AutoTrac Implement Guidance when planting. AutoTrac Implement Guidance keeps your pass-to-pass guess rows as accurate as possible by steering the tractor off the guidance line when needed to keep the planter in the right place. It ensures that every row – including guess rows – is on the same spacing.

Opening new harvest land quickly and easily

One of the biggest challenges of corn harvest is knowing where to start harvesting.

• Finding the proper place to open a new harvest land can be difficult.
• Counting rows takes time.
• It can be hard to find wide or narrow guess rows, especially in windy conditions or at night.

Starting harvest in the wrong rows wastes time – and there is no time to spare at harvest.

• Chasing down stray rows increases fuel usage, labor expenses, and machine hours.
• Grain quality can suffer, and losses can occur because the combine is not running at maximum capacity.

All of this adds up to more time, more expense, and less money in your pocket.

The AutoPath™ system addresses this harvest challenge easily, quickly, and accurately by creating guidance lines for the entire field based on the width of the corn head.

AutoPath guidance lines show exactly where to start harvesting

When opening a new harvest land, simply drive to the general location that you would like to start. Find the closest guidance line, resume AutoTrac™ guidance system, and start harvesting. You can be confident that you will start in the right place and finish out with a full pass.

Start harvesting on the right rows quickly and accurately with AutoPath

AutoPath helps you locate harvest starting points quickly and easily. This saves money by reducing time, machine hours, fuel consumption, and grain damage or loss.

Wind damaged corn can be very difficult to harvest

You have little control over the challenges that weather can bring. Wind damaged crops are often blown down, hiding the rows and making it nearly impossible to see where to harvest. The AutoPath™ system addresses these issues by providing accurate guidance lines even when the crop rows cannot be seen.

• AutoPath uses data gathered during the source operation (first pass) to map the location of each crop row. This data is used to create a series of guidance lines for the entire field which precisely follows the crop row, regardless of crop condition. You no longer need to manually create or reuse guidance lines, which can be very difficult when crop is down.
• AutoPath guidance lines position the machine accurately to start in the right place. When harvesting down crop, it can be nearly impossible to know where to start operating. AutoPath gives you accurate starting points for opening new fields, even in tough field conditions.
• AutoPath guidance lines track crop rows accurately, even when rows are not visible. When operating in the field with down crop, it is disorienting to manually drive the machine. Twisted down crops make it easy for you to move off the proper line, increasing harvest time. AutoPath lines accurately follow crop rows, even when they are not visible.
• AutoPath guidance lines allow the operator to focus on other important tasks. Harvesting in down crops can be overwhelming. Dealing with down crops increases the chance of slugging the machine. Unloading on the go is even more challenging in down crops. AutoPath gives you accurate guidance in all conditions, including down crops. This allows you to focus on other important tasks like crop feeding or unloading.

Down crops can make it impossible to see where to drive manually