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Important design issues include the style of main boom mount (for example,
center pivot or nonparallel links), the amount of mechanical damping and
spring centering on the main boom mount, and whether a main boom roll
system is available on the sprayer. All of these factors together determine
the maximum sensitivity setting you can run on your UC4 system. This in
turn will set the reaction time of the boom in a given situation.
The UC4 electronics are rarely the limiting factor in determining overall
automatic height control performance.
Sensor Reading Over Ditches, Waterways and Outside Rounds
Many situations exist where one sensor may be reading over terrain that
does not accurately reflect the situation for the rest of the boom. For
example, if you are spraying along a waterway, it may be necessary to run
the outer boom sensor out into the waterway itself. This situation is similar
to the one picture in Figure 3. In this example the outer sensor will bring
the boom lower than desired and may put the mid-point of the boom at risk.
Outside rounds adjacent to very weedy areas or tall thick grass are examples
of the opposite situation. In this situation the outer sensor may bring the
boom higher than desired (if the sensor cannot read through the thick grass).
In these situations the operator must remain alert and override automatic
control when necessary. Addition of the optional severe terrain sensors will
greatly improve performance in these situations.
Driving Through Ditches and Over Terraces
Changes in terrain that include driving over terraces or through ditching are
special performance cases. This type of terrain can cause the sprayer or
spray cart to pitch and roll significantly. Sprayer operation at speeds of 10-
20 mph in severe terrain may result in rapid changes in boom tip height. In
these situations, typical sprayer hydraulic systems are not capable of tip
speeds high enough to correct for the induced error.
There are two solutions to this problem. The first solution is for the
operator to recognize these situations before they occur and manually raise
the boom section(s) to a safe height. Overriding automatic control is made
intentionally easy. As soon as the sprayer’s boom switch is operated the
system will switch that boom to manual control. To return to automatic, use
the AUTO/MANUAL switch. This solution is no different than what would
occur with no control system present.
The second solution is to add a roll control system to your sprayer (if one is
available). This type of system will compensate for the sprayer roll in this
situation and also add stability to your boom in normal operating
conditions.
Summary of Contents for UC4 Total Control
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