25 Years of John Deere Automated Guidance: A Precision Ag Timeline
This year marks the 25th anniversary of John Deere moving into automated guidance.
This sees the new R4140i 4000 L capacity and R4150i 5000 L capacity machines, both manufactured at the company’s Horst factory in The Netherlands.
The focus for development has been on improving sprayer output, while ensuring that the highest possible application quality is maintained and delivering an improved operator environment.
The cabin design offers a new operator interface with fully integrated technology, including the John Deere universal 4640 display mounted on a new armrest. The new cab is available at two specification levels – depending on customer requirements, as well as with optional Category 4 operator protection to meet the latest safety regulations.
Aimed at increasing productivity in changing conditions, an upgraded lighting package improves visibility at night, both when working in the field and filling the sprayer with chemicals.
The R4140i is available with a choice of carbon fibre or steel booms. Meanwhile, the R4150i is only available with carbon fibre. Both come with 24 to 36 m operating widths.
Either set up uses John Deere’s PowrSpray™ solution system, with direct rate control for fast filling and accurate application rates.
Combined with the automated AirRinse™ system, this reduces the solution system’s dead volume to as low as 5 litres for maximum cleaning performance.
New for the R4140i and R4150i sprayers, ExactApply™ is an ‘intelligent’ solution that combines the ability to change spray nozzles manually from the cab or automatically – depending on application rate and speed.
This can also maintain droplet size, while changing speed using pulse width modulation (PWM) technology up to 30 Hz.
Each nozzle is controlled individually via GPS-based section control. Furthermore, turn compensation ensures that application rates remain consistent across the full boom width – even when turning the sprayer. ExactApply technology is said to enable savings in crop protection products, while yields can be increased by up to 3% by keeping under/overdosing to a minimum.
Production has started of the John Deere R4140i and R4150i, with the first units due to arrive on our shores early in 2020.
