How To Remote Control Any Tractor
RCFarmBot can remotely control almost any tractor, regardless of make or model. All that is needed is power steering and preferably a power shift transmission. Park it on the edge of the field with a grain cart and drive it to your combine via remote control when the hopper fills. No major alterations to the tractor are needed, not even a CAN bus interface.
“Our backward compatible hardware overlays your existing tractor controls to provide flexible autonomous driving, no matter your tractor’s age,” says Vincent Pawluski, Pawlutions Ltd. “To do any level of autonomy now pretty much requires a new tractor and the right brand. We’re filling a hole in the market with RCFarmBot.”
The company grew out of years of tinkering with mechanical remote controls. A few years ago, Pawluski developed a remote start to reduce the need to climb in and out of tractors when filling and emptying grain bags.
“My whole outlook on things is if I need it, I’ll learn it so I can do it,” he said.
Posting a short video on it to Twitter resulted in dozens of contacts. Others needed what he needed, so he got serious about the project.
The result was RCFarmArm with remote control of ignition, engine rpm, pto, and hydraulics (featured in FARM SHOW Vol. 45, No. 5). One module fits on top of the tractor’s armrest controls. A key module attaches to the steering wheel post to turn the tractor on and off, while a second module adjusts steering. A stop button on his handheld control turns everything off immediately if needed. The easily removed modules eliminate any concerns about violating warranties or affecting resale value.
To produce the RCFarmArm, Pawluski taught himself how to use computer-aided design and 3D printing. In less than a year, he had a patent, a working prototype, and a website and had begun filling orders. He also received the first of six Ag Innovations awards and established a company to build the systems on his Alberta farm.
Within another year he came up with RCFarmBot to give him full remote control of his tractors. This time, it only took him 45 days to finalize the design.
“I’ve been refining the product with a limited introduction,” says Pawluski. “I plan to release it for sale after another year of testing it more broadly in the field. I’m being more cautious with it than I was with RCFarmArm. It’s more of a challenge when the tractor is moving.”
Like RCFarmArm, in-cab modules overlay existing controls, including ignition, parking brake, gearshift lever, throttle control, steering, foot pedals, and autosteer engagement. The remote control features a screen for viewing in the cab and around the tractor.
“The combine operator has a left-hand joystick for remote control of the driverless tractor,” explains Pawluski.
In addition to a stop button on the joystick, the system on the driverless tractor has Bluetooth detection. If anyone with a Bluetooth device comes within a 75-ft. radius of the tractor, it idles down, goes into neutral, and engages the parking brake.
“I developed RCFarmBot for use in my combine operation to reduce labor and fuel costs,” says Pawluski. “I don’t have to have someone sitting in the grain cart tractor with the air conditioner on.”
While Pawluski designed the RCFarmBot so operators could install it, he acknowledges they may want to have a mechanic install it. Each system is custom-made for the particular tractor model.
“Having power shift is optimal,” says Pawluski. “Standard shift is more complicated and would be limited to only one or two speeds.”
Pawluski has several other remote-controlled systems in development and is working on full autonomous operation.
“I’m playing around with some open-source automation software,” he says. “RCFarmBot has no software of its own. I wanted to prove to Raven and others that we can use anyone’s software and put it to use on any tractor without regard to the year, make, or model.”
Prices for RCFarmArm range from $6,400 to $7,200, depending on the make and model of combine. “My goal is to price RCFarmBot around $35,000 to $40,000,” says Pawluski.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Pawlutions Ltd., 724071 Range Road 52, County of Grande Prairie No. 1, Alberta, Canada T8X 4M8 (ph 833-327-6276; rcfarmarm@gmail.com; www.rcfarmarm.com; www.rcfarmbot.ca).
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How To Remote Control Any Tractor BALERS RCFarmBot can remotely control almost any tractor regardless of make or model All that is needed is power steering and preferably a power shift transmission Park it on the edge of the field with a grain cart and drive it to your combine via remote control when the hopper fills No major alterations to the tractor are needed not even a CAN bus interface “Our backward compatible hardware overlays your existing tractor controls to provide flexible autonomous driving no matter your tractor’s age ” says Vincent Pawluski Pawlutions Ltd “To do any level of autonomy now pretty much requires a new tractor and the right brand We’re filling a hole in the market with RCFarmBot ” The company grew out of years of tinkering with mechanical remote controls A few years ago Pawluski developed a remote start to reduce the need to climb in and out of tractors when filling and emptying grain bags “My whole outlook on things is if I need it I’ll learn it so I can do it ” he said Posting a short video on it to Twitter resulted in dozens of contacts Others needed what he needed so he got serious about the project The result was RCFarmArm with remote control of ignition engine rpm pto and hydraulics featured in FARM SHOW Vol 45 No 5 One module fits on top of the tractor’s armrest controls A key module attaches to the steering wheel post to turn the tractor on and off while a second module adjusts steering A stop button on his handheld control turns everything off immediately if needed The easily removed modules eliminate any concerns about violating warranties or affecting resale value To produce the RCFarmArm Pawluski taught himself how to use computer-aided design and 3D printing In less than a year he had a patent a working prototype and a website and had begun filling orders He also received the first of six Ag Innovations awards and established a company to build the systems on his Alberta farm Within another year he came up with RCFarmBot to give him full remote control of his tractors This time it only took him 45 days to finalize the design “I’ve been refining the product with a limited introduction ” says Pawluski “I plan to release it for sale after another year of testing it more broadly in the field I’m being more cautious with it than I was with RCFarmArm It’s more of a challenge when the tractor is moving ” Like RCFarmArm in-cab modules overlay existing controls including ignition parking brake gearshift lever throttle control steering foot pedals and autosteer engagement The remote control features a screen for viewing in the cab and around the tractor “The combine operator has a left-hand joystick for remote control of the driverless tractor ” explains Pawluski In addition to a stop button on the joystick the system on the driverless tractor has Bluetooth detection If anyone with a Bluetooth device comes within a 75-ft radius of the tractor it idles down goes into neutral and engages the parking brake “I developed RCFarmBot for use in my combine operation to reduce labor and fuel costs ” says Pawluski “I don’t have to have someone sitting in the grain cart tractor with the air conditioner on ” While Pawluski designed the RCFarmBot so operators could install it he acknowledges they may want to have a mechanic install it Each system is custom-made for the particular tractor model “Having power shift is optimal ” says Pawluski “Standard shift is more complicated and would be limited to only one or two speeds ” Pawluski has several other remote-controlled systems in development and is working on full autonomous operation “I’m playing around with some open-source automation software ” he says “RCFarmBot has no software of its own I wanted to prove to Raven and others that we can use anyone’s software and put it to use on any tractor without regard to the year make or model ” Prices for RCFarmArm range from $6 400 to $7 200 depending on the make and model of combine “My goal is to price RCFarmBot around $35 000 to $40 000 ” says Pawluski Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Pawlutions Ltd 724071 Range Road 52 County of Grande Prairie No 1 Alberta Canada T8X 4M8 ph 833-327-6276; rcfarmarm@gmail com; www rcfarmarm com; www rcfarmbot ca
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