Precision Pays

Leica Geosystems released additional features for its guidance systems Leica mojoMINI and Leica mojo3D to further enhance product usability and compatibility.

The touch screen of the Leica mojoMINI has undertaken several modifications. It offers now two lightbar modes: the traditional cross track only lightbar and the Leica smart lightbar. Furthermore farmers are able to choose the use of WAAS and EGNOS satellites or to deactivate them, if desired.

The added support for kml files gives users of the Leica mojoMINI the ability to export data of the most recent work for viewing in Google Earth or import into a Leica mojo3D.

Now just using the Leica mojo3D and the Leica twist allow steering of all Leica SteerDirect kits which are supported by the Leica mojoXact. To enable these extra steering options a Leica mojo3D SteerDirect kit is required. More updates to the Leica SteerDirect hydraulic solution proceed with two extra kits:
– Claas Lexion Hose Kit (Article Nr. 794531)
– Buhler 2xxx 4WD Hose Kit (Article Nr. 794540)

Like the Leica mojoMINI, the Leica mojo3D now offers the cross track only lightbar as well as the Leica smart lightbar. To further increase the compatibility of the guidance display, the support for kml and shape files has been introduced. This makes it easy to import and export field data and vehicle setups to another Leica mojo3D or different applications.

Leica Geosystems released the Leica mojoXact, the new high accuracy upgrade option for the Leica mojo3D guidance display, as well as further features for the Leica mojo3D and Leica SteerDirect. The new features include an improved look and feel, better product usability, more accuracy options and an increased coverage of Leica SteerDirect vehicle support.

Leica mojoXact
The latest RTK upgrade option for the Leica mojo3D has been designed around accuracy and ease of use. It allows users to install the product in any orientation inside the tractor cab. Integration to the Leica mojo3D and configuration only takes a few minutes. The robust product comes with class leading GNSS and inertial positioning technology for continuous precision and offers additional steering solutions like Leica SteerDirect CAN, Steer Ready Kit (SRK) and Hydraulic for further improvements to accuracy. With a steering update rate at 20Hz, twice as fast as the industry standard, the Leica SteerDirect steering solution enables exceptional steering performance at all speeds.

Leica mojo3D
The guidance display has undertaken improvements to reform the look and feel of the menu and to further increase the usability. Users are now able to save and recall vehicle setups (valid for vehicles, implements and sections) and to replay any saved guidance pattern. Operating the Leica mojo3D with the Leica mojoXact and a hydraulic kit now offers stationary and reverse auto-steer engage for selected vehicle configurations. In addition network DGPS is now available providing an accuracy improvement where a corrected position is required.

Leica SteerDirect
Updates to the Leica SteerDirect hydraulic solution proceed with three more kits covering an additional range of vehicles.

For more information about Leica Geosystems agriculture products visit www.AgGuidance.com.

Leica Geosystems announces a new high accuracy upgrade option for the Leica mojo3D guidance display, the Leica mojoXact. The new product provides RTK positioning with the Leica Geosystems patented terrain compensation and various options for a wide range of steer kits to provide greater accuracy.

With the Leica mojoXact, Leica Geosystems introduces another user friendly product for a variety of applications to the farming community. Flexible mounting options allow users to install the product in any orientation inside the tractor cab and via a port expansion cable, it’s integrated to the mojo3D within a few minutes. The robust product comes with class leading GNSS and Inertial positioning technology for continuous precision and offers additional steering solutions like SteerDirect CAN, SRK and Hydraulic for further improve accuracy.

Software for the mojoXact can be updated directly via USB Flash Drive or remotely via Virtual Wrench, by the use of the mojo3D. Virtual Wrench is the integrated web-based support and diagnostic tool to provide superior support remotely at the push of a button.

For more information about Leica Geosystems agriculture products visit www.AgGuidance.com.

Leica Geosystems has released the new features for the AS7500 section controller. The most significant feature enables the user to record field inclusion boundaries and exclusion zones. These boundaries and zones can be utilised to control the auto section shutoff to include or exclude designated areas such as entire fields or waterways.

The AS7500 section control compatibility has been expanded with support added to allow interface to the Amazone Amatron+ controller. This feature will be included as standard with the AS7500 at no charge as with all other section control interfaces. A dedicated interface cable and installation manual will become available for sale as of the July 30, 2011 to allow simple plug and play installations.

All new AS7500 purchases from July 1, 2011 will be equipped with these new features. Leica Geosystems encourages individuals who would like to purchase the updated AS7500 to contact their Leica Geosystems dealer directly.

Leica Geosystems announces several updates for a range of Ag guidance products. Compatibility with the SteerDirect hydraulic kit solution continues to grow with another four series of tractors added. Autospray with Direct Section Control for Amazone Amatron+ Controller using the Leica mojo3D has been added to the ever increasing list of compatible controllers. At the same time a new Antenna Bracket and cables will be introduced on the market.

Furthermore a High Flow Kit will be released shortly, which covers vehicles that require a higher hydraulic flow (such as 4WD articulated vehicles).

Some of the above-mentioned are available now; the complete line-up will be available by June 29th.

Leica Geosystems announces the release of Direct Section Control for the Leica mojo3D. With this addition Leica Geosystems responds quickly to customer and market demands just weeks after introducing Ultimate Curve guidance option, Boundary Recording, and the ability to upgrade to GLONASS satellites for the mojo3D.

New Direct Section Control
The Direct Section Control builds on the list of rate controllers which are compatible with the multi section control kit at present. Within minutes the Direct Section Control is easily installed, using simply a cable and unlock key. The new functionality further expands the capability of the mojo3D allowing for simple compatibility to popular sections controllers in the market.

The Direct Section Control will be available for Hardi rate controllers HC5500 and HC6500 after April 20th, with the Amazone Amatron+ following shortly after.

During the Farm Progress Show one of the many precision ag companies exhibiting was Leica Geosystems. Here’s their team posing for a photo opp during my visit. I spoke with Harlan Little, North American Business Manager, on the far right, to learn what’s new with Leica.

Harlan says they’ve got a lot of interest in their touch screen units, the mojoMINI and mojo3D. He says farmers who stopped by loved getting their hands on them. Precision ag was in more evidence at this year’s Farm Progress Show than I can remember and one of the reasons is increased adoption in the industry. Harlan and I chat about what’s happening in the whole precision area.

You can listen to my interview with Harlan here: Interview With Harlan Little

Farm Progress Photo Album

I’d like to introduce the newest sponsor for our AgWired.com website and that’s Leica Geosystems. They are also providing supporting sponsorship here on Precision Pays as well.

Today the company announced that Harlan Little has been named the North American Business Manager for Leica Geosystems’ agriculture group.

Little started with Leica Geosystems in late January, and will be based out of Leica Geosystems NAFTA headquarters in Atlanta.

“Harlan is a great addition to the team and brings with him a wealth of ideas and industry contacts to help grow our business throughout the U.S. and Canada,” said Rob Kiernan, global sales and marketing manager. “We are ready to take our business to the next level with new leadership and a suite of new products being introduced this year.”

Read the rest of this post…

Most any photographer will know the Leica name. Oskar Barnack created a small 35mm camera back in 1925 that pretty much changed the way we look at things. What a lot of people are now learning about Leica is that they’re into precision agriculture technology in a big way. The company has three distinct divisions and the one on display at AG CONNECT Expo was Leica Geosystems. It was there that I met with Rob Kiernan, Global Sales & Marketing Manager.

Rob says that since they come from the optical business they’re basically a measurement company that has moved into GPS and that has led them into agriculture. At the show he says they’re promoting their mojoRTK which was launched in early 2008. He thinks they’re just now hitting their stride with the product. Service has been one of their priorities and they offer Virtual Wrench which allows the operator to get help without leaving the cab using mobile phone technology. The newest addition to their product lineup is their mojoMINI which does field guidance as well as standard navigation and will be available starting in February. You can see the unit on the display in the photo.

You can listen to my interview with Rob below:

AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

If you’re seeking a cost-effective start in precision guidance, Leica wants you to check out their new mojoMINI 3D lightbar guidance system.

The Leica mojoMINI lightbar comes with the Leica SmartAg antenna and GLIDE technology for improved in-field accuracy. Plus, the easy-to-use 4.3-inch, touch-screen display has multiple guidance options, including AB parallel, A+ heading, contour and pivot guidance for use in many field types.

“The mojoMINI can be installed in minutes and is so versatile that growers can get daily use out of the display,” said Peter Bailey, product manager. “Plus the easy-to-follow 3D display greatly reduces the operators’ time to learn the system while increasing in-field guidance accuracy over traditional LED lightbar systems.”

The Leica mojoMINI lightbar system complements the current line of mojo auto-steer products, including  the Leica mojoGLIDE console with 6- to 8-inch (15- to 25-cm) pass-to-pass accuracy and the original Leica mojoRTK console with repeatable 2-inch (5 cm) accuracy.

Farmers who have precision guidance equipment and access to the growing CORS (Continuously Operating Reference System) towerless GPS network have a new tool from Leica Geosystems to tap into it.

The Intuicom RTK Bridge allows farm equipment with guidance systems to access real-time RTK network correction without the use of a base station. State-wide CORS and private real-time networks are now available to farmers with a wide range of auto-steer systems.

“This partnership allows our resellers to offer a solution for customers who have already purchased a guidance system but now wish to connect to one of the many CORS networks,” said Trevor Mecham, NAFTA business manager for Leica Ag Solutions.

Because CORS networks work together as a true network rather than a series of individual towers, farmers experience broader, more seamless coverage without the line-of-sight issues associated with existing, single-reference networks.

“We’ve seen the benefits of the RTK Bridge across many industries,” said Tom Foley, Intuicom president. “The advantages in precision agriculture are just beginning to be fully realized.”

Already this year, hundreds of Intuicom RTK bridges have increased farmer productivity with real-time network connections. Under this new partnership, Leica Ag Solution’s authorized resellers will become the premier distributor for the Intuicom RTK Bridge into the agriculture market.

The new mojoGLIDE console from Leica Geosystems is claimed to offer a revolutionary new dual-frequency GLIDE positioning technology that provides 6- to 8-inch accuracy with no subscription fees and no base station. And if you buy the console, display and auto boom section control for your sprayer before JUNE 30th, you can save $4,500.

Leica’s mojoGLIDE console retails at $7,990 and is fully upgradable to RTK accuracy with an unlock code. Once the unlock code is purchased, the console can be used with a personal base station or on a CORS network. No additional hardware or upgrades will be required to obtain RTK accuracy.

“The mojoGLIDE console is the only low-accuracy auto-steer system that comes with all the necessary components to upgrade to RTK accuracy, eliminating the need to purchase additional radios, antennas, or cell modems,” said Trevor Mecham, North American business manager for Leica’s Ag Group. “Like the mojoRTK, the mojoGLIDE console is quick and easy to install and comes with Leica Geosystem’s patented 9-axis terrain compensation for the best performance in the most difficult terrain.”

The dual-frequency L1/L2 GLIDE technology can be added to existing mojoRTK consoles allowing users to operate without the base station during field preparation, spraying or other work that does not require RTK accuracy.

“We think our customers will see a lot of value in the mojoGLIDE console since there is no subscription fee and it is completely upgradable to RTK accuracy with the purchase of a single unlock code, which can be purchased and delivered via Virtual Wrench™,” said Darin Sothers, North American sales manager for Leica’s Ag Group.

Leica’s remote service and support tool – Virtual Wrench – can be used with the mojoGLIDE console allowing customers to get quick support in the field with a touch a button. Virtual Wrench also allows users to add advanced guidance options, RTK accuracy or other software upgrades to their console.

Get accurate real-time visual display of every field application with the new iNEX Maping & Guidance Display from Leica Geosystems. This large touch-screen display works with the Leica mojoRTK auto-steer system, or can be used as stand-alone guidance system with most GPS receivers.

The display comes with field data management software to store multiple vehicle setups. It records data from all fields, which can be easily transferred to a computer. In addition to AB parallel guidance, you also get A+ Heading and Adaptive Curve options for year-to-year repeatability.

“Combining mapping, data management, and auto-section control technology in the iNEX display with the Leica mojoRTK has given us the opportunity to reach more of the market with the tools they need to save on input costs right now,” said Trevor Mecham, North American business manager for Leica’s Agriculture Group. “We remain committed to building tools and technology that are easy to use and fit the needs of U.S. farmers.”

To ensure that customers only pay for the features they want and need, the Leica iNEX comes with a suite of standard guidance options, but offers optional upgrades. Those producers who require advanced guidance options or auto-section control can add just the options they need. Plus, when used with Leica’s mojoRTK, the iNEX can be upgraded remotely at any time via Leica Geosystems’ unique remote service and support tool – Virtual Wrench(TM).

Upgrade options for the iNEX include three advanced guidance options – Pivots, Contours and Replay. Replay is a guidance option unique to the iNEX that allows users to “replay” advanced guidance patterns on the most unique fields.

Additionally, auto-section control can be added to the iNEX display providing automatic on/off for spraying and planting applications.

Retail price is $4,995, and is available from Leica’s network of premium resellers.