Hemisphere GPS Announces New Centimeter-Level Auto-Steering for Precision Farming

We are very excited about taking our new auto-steering technology to market as it takes our product portfolio to a completely new level of precision steering and control performance, said Steven Koles, President and CEO of Hemisphere GPS. Our eDriveTC(TM) technology has been successful in steering sprayers and other farm equipment to better than eight inches. Now, with eDriveX utilizing our world-class Celestia(R) sensor fusion technology, we are able to steer more demanding farming practices including high precision planting, strip tilling and bedding, requiring centimeter-level accuracy at a wide range of speeds. This opens up a whole set of new opportunities with our aftermarket and OEM customers as we offer them the means to maximize their return on their investments by adopting the next level of precision.

Outback eDriveX is the latest addition to Hemisphere GPS' portfolio of best selling aftermarket guidance and steering systems. It automatically steers agricultural machines using GPS technology providing the exceptional accuracy and performance required for precision applications. As a result, it provides more uniform treatments, reduces waste, conserves fuel, and reduces driver fatigue; all of which reduce cost and extend time in the field. Outback eDriveX operates from 1 mph to 25 mph, features six-axis inertial compensation and integrated wheel angle sensing, and has proportional hydraulics for precise control and line acquisition. The company offers several vehicle-specific installation kits complete with all the necessary hoses, fittings, brackets and detailed installation instructions, which make Outback eDriveX immediately compatible with over 145 agricultural vehicle models. Additional installation kits will also be made available over the coming months. When teamed with Outback S3(TM), and Outback A220, Outback eDriveX offers centimeter level automated steering in Straight, Free Form Contour, and Circle Pivot Guidance modes.

The Outback A220 smart antenna is an easy to install GPS receiver and antenna in an all-in-one, rugged enclosure making it the perfect choice for both aftermarket and OEM applications. Powered by Hemisphere GPS' dual-frequency Eclipse(TM) GPS receiver technology, it provides fast, portable, sub-meter and decimeter differential GPS (DGPS) as well as centimeter real time kinematic (RTK) positioning accuracy. With the optional internal radio, Outback A220 works in RTK mode as either a base or rover. It also supports Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) signals and OmniSTAR(R) HP/XP corrections, and offers Hemisphere GPS' exclusive COAST(TM) technology, allowing it to maintain an accurate solution for up to 40 minutes, even when a differential signal is lost. Outback A220 operates within RTK networks and with base stations from other manufacturers as it supports the most common open architecture formats RTCM 3.1, CMR and CMR+. It also has the ability to communicate with a variety of external data loggers, navigation, and CAN systems using NMEA 2000, NMEA 0183, binary and USB communication protocols.

Hemisphere GPS is proud to introduce Outback eDriveX and the Outback A220 smart antenna, said Kip Pendleton, Vice President and General Manager of Agriculture of Hemisphere GPS. The superior functionality of both products allow farmers to perform precision applications with accurate and repeatable results. Growers can capture a quick return on investment with this level of precision control to increase production and reduce waste. All indications are that centimeter level steering systems are the fastest growing segment of precision agriculture. Outback eDriveX and Outback A220 are positioned ideally for this marketplace. Outback eDriveX and the Outback A220 smart antenna can be ordered at www.outbackguidance.com with availability in Spring 2010. These products will also be available through Outback Guidance Centers and other authorized Hemisphere GPS distributors in North America and worldwide.