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Base Station: Purpose and functionality

This article explains how to ensure accurate RTK signal coverage and field navigation by selecting the right Base Station setup for your farm’s layout.

The Base Station enables the FarmDroid FD20 to receive a real-time, corrected RTK-GNSS signal. This is essential for high-precision navigation and required for operations such as seeding and in-row weeding.

A Base Station delivers accurate positioning within a 10 km radius. Beyond this distance, signal interference can reduce accuracy, so FarmDroid does not support or recommend use outside this range.

If the robot connects to a different Base Station, the virtual reference point will shift significantly. For this reason, each field should use the same dedicated Base Station for the entire season. Switching Base Stations will result in a deviation that cannot be corrected, leading to a loss of precision and accuracy in operations.

Similarly, if the GNSS antenna on the Base Station is moved during the season—intentionally or unintentionally—the robot’s reference point and driving pattern will shift by the same amount.

SCENARIOS

PREREQUISITE

A farmer has several fields located within a 10 km radius.

The farmer only needs one Base Station to cover all these fields.

When moving the robot between fields, simply select the current field on the robot's HMI before starting operation.

A farmer has fields distributed across a 25 km area and wants the robot to operate on all of them.

The farmer will need at least two Base Stations placed across the area to ensure all fields are covered.

When moving the robot from one field to another, it’s important to select the correct field on the HMI and confirm that the robot is connected to the Base Station originally used to set up that field.

If there is an overlap in covered area of the Base Stations, the farmer must always select the nearest Base Station before setting up the field.

The robot does not know which Base Station it is connected to; it only knows whether it has an RTK signal or not.

A farmer has two fields with a distance between them of more than 25km.

The farmer will need two Base Stations, with one dedicated to each field.

When transferring the robot between these fields, select the appropriate field on the HMI and make sure the robot is connected to the Base Station that was originally assigned to that field.

The robot cannot identify which Base Station it is connected to; it only recognizes whether it is receiving an RTK signal.