Computer-vision-based hoe guidance for cereals - an initial trial

A tractor mounted steerage hoe for cereals has been equipped with a computer-vision-based guidance system. The experimental equipment has been field tested in a crop with an inter-row spacing of 0.22 m at a range of speeds up to 6 km/h. Results show that the 13 mm standard error in hoe position is independent of speed. Steady-state errors of approximately 20 mm, due principally to lateral misalignment of the camera, need to be substantially reduced in order to achieve satisfactory performance. The necessary improvements can readily be implemented by better mechanical design and controller settings. (C) 1999 Silsoe Research Institute.