AgSense Integration

Connect your AgSense account to visualize irrigation pivots on the map and increase the safety of your autonomous field operations.

The AgSense integration with vMC enables Steward™ customers to utilize irrigation pivot status to inform autonomous field operations and increase safety. This article guides you through accessing the AgSense integration page, connecting an AgSense account, visualizing irrigation systems on the map, and enabling our pivot safety system to ensure safe autonomous field operations on irrigated fields.

 

Accessing the AgSense Integration

1. Navigate to Settings: Start by logging into your dashboard and going to the settings page.
2. Open the Integrations tab: Click on the "Integrations" tab within the settings menu.
3. Select the AgSense panel: Find and click on the "AgSense" integration panel to access the dedicated AgSense integration page.

Connecting an AgSense Account

1. Add Connection: On the AgSense integration page, click the "Add Connection" button.
2. Enter Account Details: Input the friendly name, username, and password for your AgSense account.
3. Save Connection: Press "Save" to complete the setup. You should receive a notification confirming that your AgSense account is successfully connected.

Disconnecting an AgSense Account

1. Navigate to AgSense Page: Go to the AgSense integration page where your connections are listed.
2. Disconnect Account: Click the trash button next to the AgSense account you wish to disconnect.
3. Confirmation: After disconnecting, the account and its corresponding irrigation systems will be removed from your view, and you should see a confirmation on the page.

 

Accessing Pivot Status & Information

There are two ways to access status information about the pivots coming from your connected AgSense accounts, via the settings and via the map.

Viewing Irrigation Pivot Status in Settings

1. Access the AgSense Page: Ensure you are on the AgSense integration page with established AgSense connections.
2. View Irrigation Systems: The page will display a list of all connected irrigation systems along with details such as:
   • Irrigation System Name
   • AgSense Account Friendly Name
   • Irrigation System Power Status
   • Irrigation System Current Angle (in degrees)
   • Irrigation System Direction of Movement
   • Irrigation System SIS Angle (in degrees)
   • Irrigation System Last Updated Timestamp

Visualizing Irrigation Pivots on Maps

• Fields View: When viewing all your fields on the map, any field with an AgSense connected irrigation system will show the system visualized on the map.
• Coverage Planner: In the coverage planner, if you have AgSense connections, irrigation systems in the respective fields will be visible on the map.
• Mission Planner: Similarly, in the mission planner, connected irrigation systems will be displayed on the map for fields with AgSense connections.

 

Using the Pivot Safety System

The Pivot Safety System is a crucial feature designed to ensure safety when performing autonomous field operations in fields with irrigation pivots. By monitoring the position of the pivot arm relative to predetermined safe angles, the system ensures that Steward™ systems navigate only when the pivot poses no risk of interference.

How the Pivot Safety System Works:

The system focuses on three critical angles:

• Min Angle: The initial position from which the pivot arm begins its rotation.
• Max Angle: The final position where the pivot arm ends its rotation.
• Stop in Slot (SIS) Angle: A designated safe location within the field for the pivot arm to park. This position is set to avoid obstructing field operations.

The safety mechanism allows navigation of Steward™ systems within the field when the pivot arm is positioned within ±2 degrees of any of these angles. If a vehicle is operating in a field where the irrigation pivot is ON or the pivot arm is not within ±2 degrees of any of these angles, a pause will be issued and autonomous navigation will be prevented. This monitoring helps to prevent collisions and ensures that field operations proceed smoothly without interruption from the moving pivot.

Setting the SIS Angle

The Stop in Slot (SIS) angle is an important component of the Pivot Safety System, designating a specific location within the field where the pivot arm can safely park without interfering with ongoing field operations. Properly setting this angle ensures the pivot arm is positioned away from the path of field vehicles, enhancing safety during automated tasks.

• View the selected pivot within the AgSense integration settings.
• Under the section labeled "SIS Angle", input the desired angle for the pivot to park safely, based on field layout and operational considerations. Ideally, this value matches the same SIS angle seen in your AgSense dashboard.

While providing an SIS angle is not mandatory, it is highly recommended to define this parameter to enhance the effectiveness of the Pivot Safety System. Setting the SIS angle helps check when the the pivot arm is parked in a position that is deemed safest for both the pivot and autonomous field operations, minimizing the potential for operational disruptions or collisions.

Enabling the Pivot Safety System

By default, connected accounts will have the pivot safety system disabled. To begin using the pivot safety system, customers must explicitly turn it ON.

To enable the system

• Navigate to the AgSense integration: Ensure you are on the AgSense integration page with established AgSense connections.
• Enable Safety System: For each connected account, you can enable the pivot safety system for all associated pivots.

 

Troubleshooting

• Pause is being issued when irrigation pivot arm is in the SIS angle: Check the irrigation pivot from the settings page to ensure that the SIS angle is set within the integration and that it matches the SIS angle that is set within your AgSense dashboard.
• The irrigation pivot arm is not up-to-date: Sabanto receives updates from irrigation pivots every 30 minutes. At this time, it is not possible to request information sooner.