No. 304: An unmanned tractor capable of traveling the furrow very precisely (September 7, 2010)

An unmanned tractor loaded with a system developed by a team made up of Hitachi Zosen and Hokkaido University traveled the furrow with a marginal error of a few centimeters with the help of Japan�s first, and currently the only, quasi-zenith satellite �Michibiki (Guidance)� in Tokyo for demonstration. The traveling route was put in the program in advance, and the tractor traveled the furrow while compensating the position using the signals it received from the �Michibiki� through the antenna on its top. The existing GPS system alone creates a marginal error of 1-10 meters, but the combined use of the Michibiki and the existing GPS successfully reduce it to a few centimeters. This precision allows for efficient pesticide application targeting a specific crop and automatic harvesting besides improving the labor efficiency in farm operation. The research team also considers the application for monitoring children and as a tool to guide sightseers. Launched last September, the �Michibiki� is making rounds in the sky over Australia and Japan describing a figure of eight. Because it can cover the sky over Japan only for eight hours a day, the Japanese government plans to launch the second and third �Michibiki� in the future.