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| Ag Management Solutions : Terrain Compensation Module (TCM) |
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Terrain Compensation Module (TCM) for all StarFire™ position receivers
John Deere Ag Management Solutions (AMS) is pleased to announce the availability of the
Terrain Compensation Module (TCM) for all StarFire™ position receivers. The TCM is
designed to work with the StarFire™ position receiver to enhance position information coming
from the StarFire™ receiver by compensating for vehicle roll on hillsides and rough terrain. The
addition of a TCM improves the position signal and enhances the performance of the
GreenStar™ Guidance systems.
What does the TCM do?
The TCM is designed to enhance the performance of GreenStar™ Guidance systems in conditions that cause vehicle roll. On uneven or sloped ground, the vehicle will roll to one side, causing the GPS position receiver (located on top of the cab) to shift in position. This side-to-side position shift caused by vehicle roll results in Guidance position errors. The TCM measures this vehicle roll and gives the true position of the vehicle on the ground. The TCM only compensates for vehicle roll, and does not compensate for any implement drift caused by side slopes.
How does the TCM work?
The TCM mounts to the bottom of any StarFire™ position receiver and is connected between the
StarFire receiver and the GreenStar™ system with a short wiring harness included in the kit.
The TCM receives position information from the StarFire™ receiver, corrects for vehicle roll,
and passes the corrected true vehicle position to the rest of the system. The TCM also uses an
internal gyro sensor to smooth out the position data, resulting in more stable system
performance. The lower shroud on the StarFire receiver is replaced with a new shroud
designed to fit over the TCM.
Who needs a TCM?
The value of the TCM is determined by the operating terrain and the level of accuracy
required. While the TCM will work with all GreenStar™ applications, it is primarily intended
for use in GreenStar™ Guidance systems. The TCM is recommended for operating in hilly
(greater than 3-4% slope) or rough field conditions. The TCM is also recommended for
higher accuracy operations, such as planting.
The TCM provides more value on wheeled vehicles (vs. tracks) and vehicles with softer
suspension, as these vehicles experience greater side-to-side vehicle roll. On AutoTrac™
systems, the TCM will dampen the high frequency steering corrections caused by GPS
position noise.
The following table shows where the TCM is most beneficial. The Degree of Enhancement is
on a scale of 1 - 5, with 1 being less beneficial and a 5 being most beneficial.
| Vehicle |
Application |
Terrain |
Degree of Enhancement |
| AutoTrac™ Track Tractor |
Planting or Bedding |
Hilly ground or slopes |
4 |
| AutoTrac™ Track Tractor |
Planting or Bedding |
Rough Terrain |
3.4 |
| AutoTrac™ Track Tractor |
Air Seeding |
Hilly ground or slopes |
4 |
| AutoTrac™ Track Tractor |
Air Seeding |
Rough Terrain |
1 |
| AutoTrac™ Track Tractor |
Spraying |
All Conditions |
2 |
| AutoTrac™ Track Tractor |
Any Tillage Application |
Hilly ground or slopes |
2 |
| AutoTrac™ Track Tractor |
Any Tillage Application |
Rough Terrain |
1 |
| |
| AutoTrac™ Wheeled Tractor |
Planting |
All Conditions |
5 |
| AutoTrac™ Wheeled Tractor |
Any Tillage Application |
All Conditions |
4 |
| AutoTrac™ Wheeled Tractor |
Spraying |
All Conditions |
4 |
| AutoTrac™ Wheeled Tractor |
Air Seeding |
All Conditions |
4 |
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| Parallel Tracking |
All Applications |
Hilly Conditions |
3 |
The TCM provides less value for non-GreenStar™ Guidance applications, such as Field Doc™, Map-Based Seeding for Planters, and Combine Yield-Mapping.
What was the TCM not designed to do?
As mentioned above, the TCM was designed to enhance the performance of GreenStar™
Guidance systems. With this in mind, there are some things that the TCM was not designed to
accomplish:
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The TCM does not improve the GPS accuracy of the StarFire™ position receiver. The TCM only compensates for cab roll that occurs due to rough terrain or hillsides.
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The TCM does not compensate for implement drift that may occur on hillsides with drawn implements. Again, the TCM only compensates for vehicle cab roll.
IMPORTANT
The TCM does not compensate for implement drift that may occur on hillsides with drawn
implements. Again, the TCM only compensates for vehicle cab roll.
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When the TCM is installed on wheeled vehicles, the steering gain (steering sensitivity to the AutoTrac system) is increased internally, regardless if the TCM is turned ON or OFF. This means if the TCM is installed and turned OFF, the steering is very sensitive and there will be increased activity in the steered wheels.
* Specifications subject to change.
Please contact your local dealer for more detailed information.
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