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5.3 Understanding Crop Mode
A unique feature of Norac’s ultrasonic sensors are their ability to operate in
CROP mode. In this mode the sensor will track the first available sonic
target. That is, when positioned over standing crop, the sensor will return
the average height of the heads in a circular area below the sensor. In the
same situation in SOIL mode, the sensor will track the last available sonic
target. That is, signals from the heads, leaves, and trash will be ignored in
favor of the ground.
It is important to note that the targets must be available and of sufficient
strength for the sensor to "see" them. There may be some crop and terrain
situations that do not work well for CROP mode or SOIL mode. In these
situations the operator must resume height control of the booms manually.
In general, the addition of the severe terrain kit will improve performance in
crop. All of the problems discussed below are lessened by the addition of
the extra sensors on the wings.
Areas of "No Crop" in Crop Mode
If, while operating in crop mode, the sensor encounters an area where there
is no crop the system will behave as follows. The sensor will track the soil
because only one target is available. The boom will lower as shown below.
Areas like this may include missed areas during seeding, alkaline areas and
so on. When the problem area ends, it may not be possible for the sensor to
see the crop again unless the operator raises the boom manually. The
sensor may be closer than required nine inches from heads of the crop, thus
blanking out the desired target.
"No Crop
Area"
Boom Stability in Crop
In general the top of the crop is a more inherently variable target than soil.
Put simply, given identical control settings, your height control would be
more active when operating in crop than in soil. To allow for this, many
settings are customized automatically when you change modes on the UC4
Summary of Contents for UC4 Total Control
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