GrainsWest Fall 2019

Tech 2019 grainswest.com 31 REIMAGINING FARMING Envisioned by Saskatchewan farmer and SeedMaster founder and president Norbert Beaujot, the DOT Power Platform is manufactured by sister company DOT Technology Corp. Using autonomous technology to improve seeding efficiency, the U-shaped unit employs locking rails to couple with DOT- ready equipment. Following limited distribution in 2018, DOT saw wide release in 2019. DOT isn’t much to look at. The Power Platform appears to be a simple metal frame on wheels, but it’s powerful. The unit’s 163 hp Cummins Tier 4 diesel engine powers four hydrostatically driven wheels. Its GPS-guided precision computer software allows it to pair with, control and transport the various DOT-Ready implements now available. Manually controlled with a handheld remote, once in the field, it works in full autonomous mode on a preloaded path. The operator can watch the machine’s progress from a distance and take control using a tablet, if necessary. The machine’s control software employs boundary mapping and geo-fencing to negotiate obstacles such as sloughs, rock piles, fences and power lines. It also heeds “school zones,” slowing down in designated areas. The parameters and obstacles need only be set up once, said DOT CEO Rob Saik. “With additional data such as bio- vegetation or soil-zone maps of the farm we can program very precise applications of crop inputs. It’s very exciting to see the convergence of all of these technologies together in one platform that can make a difference for farmers.” The autonomous DOT Power Platformcan be pairedwith compatible implements such as an air seeder, sprayer and dry spreader.