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AirTracUser Guide

Part No. 875-0105-001 Rev. E1


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This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two

conditions:(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and(2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may causeundesired operation.

Copyright NoticeHemisphere GPS Precision GPS Applications

Copyright Hemisphere GPS (2009). All rights reserved.No part of this manual may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval systemor translated into any language or computer language, in any form or by any means, electronic,mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, manual or otherwise, without the prior writtenpermission of Hemisphere GPS.

TrademarksHEMISPHERE GPS, the Hemisphere GPS logo, CRESCENT, ECLIPSETM, COASTTM, e-DIF,

OUTBACKTM, OUTBACK Guidance, OUTBACK Guidance CenterTM, OUTBACK STM, OUTBACKS-LiteTM, OUTBACK S2TM, OUTBACK 360TM. OUTBACK Steering GuideTM, OUTBACK HitchTM,

SATLOC, the Satloc logo, eDrive, eDriveTCTM, Just Let GoTM, L-DifTM, BaseLineHDTM,

AerialAceTM, AirStarTM, AirTracTM, GPSteerTM, LiteStar IITM, PocketMaxTM, PocketMax PCTM,

Satloc M3TM, MapStar, IntelliFlow, Beeline, Contour LockTM and VectorTM are proprietarytrademarks of Hemisphere GPS. Other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.

Patents

The OUTBACK STM

and S-LiteTM

automated navigation and steering guide system is covered byU.S. Patents No. 6,539,303 and No. 6,711,501. The OUTBACK HitchTM automated hitch controlsystem is covered by U.S. Patent No. 6,631,916. The OUTBACK eDriveTC GPS assisted steeringsystem is covered by U.S. Patent No. 7,142,956. Hemisphere GPS products may be covered byone or more of the following U.S. Patents:

Other U.S. and foreign patents pending.

6,111,549 6,397,147 6,469,663 6,501,346 6,539,303

6,549,091 6,631,916 6,711,501 6,744,404 6,865,465

6,876,920 7,142,956 7,162,348 7,277,792 7,292,185

7,292,186 7,373,231 7,400,956 7,400,294 7,388,539

7,429,952 7,437,230 7,460,942


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Notice to Customers

Contact your local dealer for technical assistance. To find the authorized dealer near you,call or write us at:

Hemisphere GPS8444 N. 90th Street, Suite 130Scottsdale, AZ 85258 USA

Telephone number:Fax number:E-mail address:

(480) 348-9919(480) [email protected]


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Warranty Notice

Covered ProductsThis warranty covers all products manufactured by Hemisphere GPS (the "Products").

Hemisphere GPS Limited WarrantyHemisphere GPS hereby warrants solely to the end purchaser of the Products, subject to theexclusions and procedures set forth herein below, that the Products sold to such endpurchaser shall be free, under normal use and maintenance, from defects in material and

workmanship for a period of 12 months from delivery to such end purchaser. Repairs andreplacement components are warranted, subject to the exclusions and procedures set forthbelow, to be free, under normal use and maintenance, from defects in material andworkmanship for 90 days from performance or delivery, or for the balance of the originalwarranty period, whichever is greater.

Purchaser's Exclusive RemedyThe end purchaser's exclusive remedy under this warranty shall be limited to the repair or

replacement, at the option of Hemisphere GPS, of any defective Products or componentsthereof. The end user shall notify Hemisphere GPS or a Hemisphere GPS approved servicecenter immediately of any claimed defect. Repairs shall be made through a Hemisphere GPSapproved service center only.

ExclusionsHemisphere GPS does not warrant damage occurring in transit or due to misuse, abuse,improper installation, neglect, lightning (or other electrical discharge) or fresh/salt water

immersion of Products. Repair, modification or service of Hemisphere GPS products by anyparty other than a Hemisphere GPS approved service center shall render this warranty nulland void. Hemisphere GPS does not warrant claims asserted after the end of the warrantyperiod. Hemisphere GPS does not warrant or guarantee the precision or accuracy ofpositions obtained when using Products. Products are not intended for primary navigation orfor use in safety of life applications. The potential accuracy of Products as stated inHemisphere GPS literature and/or Product specifications serves to provide only an estimateof achievable accuracy based on:

Specifications provided by the US Department of Defense for GPS Positioning, DGPS service provider performance specifications.

Hemisphere GPS reserves the right to modify Products without any obligation to notify,supply or install any improvements or alterations to existing Products.


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No Other Warranties

THEFOREGOINGWARRANTYISEXCLUSIVEOFALLOTHERWARRANTIES, WHETHERWRITTEN, ORAL,IMPLIEDORARISINGBYSTATUTE, COURSEOFDEALINGORTRADEUSAGE, INCONNECTIONWITHTHEDESIGN, SALE, INSTALLATION, SERVICEORUSEOFANYPRODUCTSORANYCOMPONENTSTHEREOF,INCLUDING, BUTNOTLIMITEDTO, ANYWARRANTYOFMERCHANTABILITYORFITNESSFORAPARTICULARPURPOSE.

Limitation of LiabilityTHEEXTENTOF HEMISPHERE GPS LIABILITYFORDAMAGESOFANYNATURETOTHEENDPURCHASERORANYOTHERPERSONORENTITYWHETHERINCONTRACTORTORTANDWHETHERTOPERSONSORPROPERTYSHALLINNOCASEEXCEED, THEAGGREGATE, THECOSTOFCORRECTINGTHEDEFECTIVEITEM.INNOEVENTWILL HEMISPHERE GPS BELIABLEFORANYLOSSOFPROFITS, LOSSOFUSEORFORANYSPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIALORCONTINGENTDAMAGES, EVENIF HEMISPHERE GPSHASBEENADVISEDOFTHEPOSSIBILITYOFSUCHDAMAGES. WITHOUTLIMITINGTHEFOREGOING,HEMISPHERE GPS SHALLNOTBELIABLEFORANYDAMAGESOFANYKINDRESULTINGFROMINSTALLATION, USE, QUALITY, PERFORMANCEORACCURACYOFANYPRODUCTS.

Governing Legislation

To the greatest extent possible, this warranty shall be governed by the laws of the State ofArizona. In the event that any provision hereof is held to be invalid by a court of competent

jurisdiction, such provision shall be severed from this warranty and the remaining provisionsshall remain in full force and effect.

Obtaining Warranty ServiceIn order to obtain warranty service, the end purchaser must bring the Product to aHemisphere GPS approved service center along with the end purchaser's proof of purchase.

For any questions regarding warranty service or to obtain information regarding the locationof any of Hemisphere GPS' approved service centers, contact Hemisphere GPS at thefollowing address:

Hemisphere GPS8444 N. 90th Street, Suite 130Scottsdale, AZ 85258Phone: 480-348-9919 Fax: [email protected]

www.hemispheregps.com

Documentation FeedbackHemisphere GPS is committed to the quality and continuous improvement of our productsand services. We urge you to provide Hemisphere GPS with any feedback regarding thisguide by writing to the following email address: [email protected]


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AirTrac User Guide

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Contents

Chapter 1 Welcome to AirTrac

Product Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

The Hemisphere DGPS Receiver Advantage . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

AirTracs Use of DGPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3The AirTrac Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Understanding the Main Display Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Map window................................................................... 4

Data window .................................................................. 5

Using the Menu - Virtual or Actual Keypad . . . . . . . . . . . 5Accessing sub-screens and returning .......................... 6

Navigating menu options with the keypad.................. 7

Setting field values with the keypad ............................ 7

The Menu Keys and their Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Entering Numbers and Letters - General . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Entering Numbers and Letters - Touchscreen . . . . . . . . 12

Touchscreen numeric entry window.......................... 12

Touchscreen alphanumeric entry window ................ 13

Entering Numbers and Letters - Keypad . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Keypad numeric entry window................................... 14

Keypad alphanumeric entry window ......................... 14

Zooming and Panning the Map Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Zooming and panning with the touchscreen ............ 15


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Zooming and panning with the keypad ..................... 17

Switching Between the Screen Color Options . . . . . . . . 17

Before You Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Understanding Local Time Offset, Units, GPS Coordinatesand Laser (Altimeter) Offset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Local time offset........................................................... 18

Global units (of measurement)................................... 18GPS coordinates .......................................................... 19

Ag. laser (altimeter) offset........................................... 19

Setting Up Local Time Offset, Units, GPS Coordinates andLaser (Altimeter) Offset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Detecting Your Flow Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Chapter 2 Work Options and Parameters

Jobs and JOBS in AirTrac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Entering Basic JOB Details (Quick-Start) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Understanding Job and Log Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Log Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27Adding Job Information to the Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Spray Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Setting Spray Options - Basic Flow Control . . . . . . . . . . 30

Setting Spray Options - Flow Mode and Target Rate . . 32

Setting Spray Options - Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Additional Flow Control Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Boom Shutoff Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Other Boom Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35


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Performing a Boom Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Changing the Flow Lead Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

To change the flow lead time: .................................... 37

Setting flow control parameters................................. 38

Chapter 3 Pattern Guidance

Open and Closed Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Understanding the A|B Line - Open Patterns . . . . . . . . . 42

Understanding the A|B Line - Closed Patterns . . . . . . . . 42

Flying Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Flying a Basic Pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Common Pattern Flying Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Light bar Warnings.................................................................... 48

Available Pattern Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Introducing the Available Pattern Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Flying the Available Pattern Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Back-to-back patterns .................................................. 52

Multi back-to-back patterns......................................... 52

Back-to-back skip patterns .......................................... 54

Racetrack patterns ....................................................... 55

Quick racetrack patterns.............................................. 56

Reverse racetrack patterns.......................................... 57

QuickTrac X patterns ................................................... 58

Squeeze (SQUEZ) patterns.......................................... 60


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Expand patterns ........................................................... 61

Understanding Marks (Return Points) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Creating/Numbering Marks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Returning to a Mark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Clearing a Mark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Managing Data and Log Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Selecting the Logging Read/Write Device . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

About Log Data Files and Job Data Files . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Viewing Log Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Clearing Log Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Transferring Data Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Transferring Only Log Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Transferring Logs to Your Personal Computer (PC) . . . 74

Chapter 4 Advanced Navigation

Understanding Waypoints and Routes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Managing Waypoints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Setting waypoints while flying ................................... 77

Setting waypoints by manual entry of GPS coordinates78

Recalling a waypoint ................................................... 79

Editing or deleting a waypoint.................................... 79

Managing Routes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Assigning a waypoint to a route................................. 80

Recalling a route .......................................................... 80


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Setting up automatic guidance................................... 81

Saving and Recalling JOBs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Understanding Polygons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Using Polygons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Setting Polygon Points - Three Ways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Setting polygon points as you fly............................... 83

Entering GPS coordinates manually .......................... 86

Importing Coordinates from a GIS File...................... 89

Calculating Total Polygon Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Saving Polygons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Saving/using a polygon without a JOB - single session

91

Saving/using a polygon without a JOB - multiple ses-sions.............................................................................. 92

Displaying Time and Distance to Polygons . . . . . . . . . . 94

Editing or Deleting a Polygon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Navigating to a Polygon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94Managing A|B Lines with Polygons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

Auto-applying A|B Lines to a Polygon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

Rotating the A|B Line Around a Polygon . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

Understanding Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

Chapter 5 Advanced Setup and CustomizationsAdvanced Setup Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Understanding the Light Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

Setting Up the Light Bar - Basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102


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Setting the left and right displays ............................ 103

Setting a double-spray warning option ................... 103

Setting the cross-track sensitivity............................. 103

Setting the light bar edge warning........................... 103

Setting Up the Light Bar - Advanced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

Setting the upper and lower LEDs display .............. 105

Desensitizing the LEDs .............................................. 105

Understanding Guidance Delay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

To Set a Guidance Delay: .......................................... 105

The Screen Displays Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Setting Up the Display Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Setting the mode ....................................................... 107

Setting the display screen options ........................... 107

Setting the screen orientation .................................. 108

Setting the screen motion......................................... 108

Changing the zoom/pan options .............................. 108

Logging Defaults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

Flow Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Differential GPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

The SBAS Receiver Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Using e-Dif with AirTrac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

Customized Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Chapter 6 Troubleshooting

Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116


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Appendix A: The AirTrac Screen Map ..........................................119

Appendix B: Light Bar and Screen Display Options .....................120

Light Bar\Screen Display Options - As Listed (By Type)...... 121Light Bar\Screen Display Options - Alphabetical.................. 123

End User License Agreement .......................................................130


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Chapter 1: Welcome to AirTrac

Product Features

The Hemisphere DGPS Receiver Advantage

AirTracs Use of DGPS

The AirTrac Display

Before You Start


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1: Welcome to AirTrac

he AirTrac guidance software provides the precise, flexibleguidance technology you need in todays aerial spray market. Inthis introductory chapter, we summarize the product features and

introduce the screen display and the interface. We also discuss some ofthe things you need to do to get started.

Product Features

AirTrac guidance software works with the Hemisphere GPSs Air M3

system. This next-generation software provides new features toimprove all types of aerial spray applications. AirTracs features include:

variable rate flow control

dry flow control support

nighttime screen color options

additional pattern types for even more flexibility

touchscreen or keypad interface options

variable rate prescription maps for the variable rate flow control(software included)

the option to set the USB thumb drive or the M3 hard drive as thelogging read/write device (see Selecting the Logging Read/Write

Device on page 66).

The Hemisphere DGPS Receiver Advantage

With a Hemisphere DGPS receiver, you will never be without adifferential signal. Our receivers support differential signals from aSatellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS), such as WAAS, EGNOS,MSAS, or GAGAN, OmniSTAR, or Beacon. In the event of a temporarysignal outage, Hemispheres patented COAST technology enables youto use old correction data for a half hour or longer without significantdegradation of accuracy.

T


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Hemisphere receivers also support e-Dif, a differential solution for areaswhere it is geographically difficult to get a good differential signal. Withe-Dif, you can achieve GPS accuracies of a few feet without the need fora differential signal broadcast. e-Dif works by generating internaldifferential corrections based on your starting location. The correctionsare modeled over time and applied to the GPS data to maintain aconsistent relative position.

AirTracs Use of DGPS

AirTrac uses DGPS data to provide you with highly accurate guidance toefficiently complete your spray jobs.

Once you have established a reference line, or starting location for yourpattern, AirTrac can calculate exactly where your next swath should bebased on your selected swath width and pattern using a GPS location itcomputes 5-20 times per second. The GPS location is made moreaccurate by applying DGPS corrections. The resulting light bar guidance

cues reflect your real-time GPS data.

AirTrac also uses GPS data to guide you to specific waypoints - GPScoordinates of a specific location.

The AirTrac Display

There are two AirTrac versions available: touchscreen and keypad. Both

versions use the same basic console display, which includes importantstatus information and custom display (user-configurable) options.

With the touchscreen version you access a virtual keypad on the displayscreen that looks like, and behaves in a very similar way to, AirTracsM3 standard (optional) keypad.

The main difference between the two versions is indicated in Figure 1-1below. In the touchscreen version the map window has:

a KEYPAD key which takes you to the main menuthe virtualkeypad, and

four shortcut or quick keys to access the frequently used functionsof zoom, mark a position, decrement a swath and advance a swath.


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There are also slight differences between the two versions in the waythat you navigate the screens and enter alphanumeric characters.

Understanding the Main Display Screen

The main display screen comprises two areas, or windows: the mapwindow and the data window.

Figure 1-1: Main display screen: touchscreen version

Map window

The map window shows a GIS-generated map of the field when youcreate a job file or open a log. The map includes an outline of the fields

shape and size, areas to spray and to not spray, and any marks in thefield. The map window also shows your differential status and whetherlogging is on or off. As shown in Figure 1-1, only the touchscreenversion has a KEYPAD key and the four quick keys.


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Data window

The data window shows the current date and time, status informationfor special functionssuch as waypoints and missions, help messages,GPS statusand your current job information, including pattern,direction, swath width and number, speed, heading, and sprayed area.

The data window also displays, when required, guides to the use of thekeypad for some functions, for example zooming and panning the mapdisplay.

Note: For a list of display options for the map windows large formatdisplay fields and the data windows Fields 1-3, see Appendix B: LightBar and Screen Display Options on page 122.

Using the Menu - Virtual or Actual Keypad

For both versions of AirTrac you enter custom setup options, values andcommands by using (touching or pressing) buttons on the virtual or

actual keypads.

You access the touchscreens menu by touching KEYPAD in the mapwindow.

Figure 1-2: The touchscreens menu or virtual keypad


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Note: In this document, when describing procedures, buttons are

referred to with their function or data type in uppercase and theirnumeric value. For example LEFT RIGHT\3 or MARK\4.

In the keypad version, you do not need to access a menuyour keypadis the menu.

Figure 1-3: The keypad menu - the keypad itself

Note that for both menus, the most often used keysSETUP,PATTERN\1, SWATH\2, and LEFT RIGHT\3are highlighted in white, seeThe Menu Keys and their Function on page 8 for a description of the

menu button functions.

Accessing sub-screens and returning

Using the SETUP button, you can navigate through as many as threesub-screens to make additional/advanced selections or set additional/advanced values (the SETUP button in the sub-screens has theannotation For More Options). For example, starting at thetouchscreens main menu (press KEYPAD) or the real keypad, you can

navigate as follows:SETUP on the Menu opens AirTrac Setup (with the touchscreen youcan also access this screen directly from the map screen by pressingKEYPAD twice quickly).

SETUP on AirTrac Setup opens Setup 2.


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SETUP on Setup 2 opens Advanced Setup.

SETUP on Advanced Setup opens Advanced Setup 2.

For a schematic of the full screen map, see Appendix A: The AirTracScreen Map on page 121.

From each of these sub-screens you have the choice of backtrackingthrough the screens one by one or going directly back to the map. UseCLEAR (left arrow) To Go Back (backtrack) or EXIT To Return To Map.

Note: Theres no CLEAR button in the AirTrac Setup screen becausegoing back one screen from there is back to the map so you use EXIT.

Navigating menu options with the keypad

In the keypad version, use your arrow keys (ABC, DEC, CLEAR andSAVE) to navigate around menu options on display. The currentselection has a yellow background.

Setting field values with the keypad

If a field button has a drop-down list associated with it (for examplePATTERN in the AirTrac Setup screen), press SAVE/right arrow todropor openthe list. Then use ABC and DEC (up and down arrows)to select your pattern type. If you have then finished in the Setupscreen, press EXIT to return to the map with your pattern type set. If you


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want to stay in the Setup screen, press SAVE/right arrow again to closethe drop-down list but stay in the Setup screen to set other field values.

If a field button does not have a drop-down list (for example LOG in theSetup screen), press ENTER to cycle through the available values (LEFTor RIGHT in our example). Then return to the map or set other fieldvalues.

The Menu Keys and their Function

The table below provides a brief description of the function of each key

on the main menu.

Menu Key Function

Access the AirTrac Setup screen.

Toggle through available patterns without going

SETUP > PATTERN (you can see the pattern nameschanging in the data window). Also, numeric value 1.

Enter a swath width using the numeric keypad withoutgoing SETUP > SWATH WIDTH. Also, numeric value 2.

Change direction (left to right or right to left) withoutgoing SETUP > LEFT/RIGHT (you can see the changesin the data window). You are either flying to the left orto the right of the A|B line. Also, numeric value 3.


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Create A, B and C points when creating a pattern. Oncethe pattern is set, the button turns into a swathadvance function (touchscreen and keypad) or the uparrow (keypad). See below.

1. Touchscreen: Swath advance (if not using thetouchscreen map windows ADV quick key orthe remote advance switch).

2. Keypad:

a. swath advance

b. navigating within screens: selects fieldsabove currently selected field or moves upopen field lists.

Access the Zoom/Pan controls (if not using thetouchscreen map windows ZOOM quick key.)

Set a mark (1-9) quickly. Press this key in conjunctionwith an action key (SAVE, SET, CLEAR) to set, recall, ordelete a mark respectively. Also, numeric value 4.

Press this key in conjunction with an action key (SAVE,SET, CLEAR) to set, recall, or delete a waypointrespectively. Also, numeric value 5.

Press to set a polygon point. Also, press this key inconjunction with an action key (SAVE, SET, CLEAR) toset, recall, or delete a polygon. Also, numeric value 6.

1. Touchscreen: Swath decrement (if not usingthe touchscreen map windows DEC quick keyor the remote decrement switch).

2. Keypad:

a. swath advance

b. navigating within screens: selects fieldsbelow currently selected field or movesdown open field lists.

Menu Key Function


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Used in conjunction with other keys to either clear adata type from the screen or delete a data type. Forexample, pressing CLEAR, JOB, ENTER clears the JOBdata (polygons and patterns) from the screen. CLEAR,JOB, n, ENTER (where n = the JOB number) deletes theJOB from the database (you have to confirm thedeletion).

You also use CLEAR > CLEAR then YES (or EXIT TOWINDOWS) to correctly exit AirTrac before shuttingdown the power source. For important informationon exiting AirTrac and powering off see the exitwarning on page 26(Exit warning).

Note: It is important to be aware of the differencebetween clearing a data type from the screen orclearing (deleting) the data type from the databaseby entering its number. If you delete a JOB, itspolygons and patterns are also deleted.

Acts as a quick key to return you to marks numberedbetween 1 and 9. Press RETURN then a number key (1-9) to return to that mark. You cannot return to any marknumbered higher than 9 because only the first digitcounts. To return to marks numbered greater than 9

use SET (see SET below). Also, numeric value 7.

Press this key in conjunction with an action key (SAVE,SET, CLEAR) to set, recall, or delete a routerespectively. Also, numeric value 8.

Press this key in conjunction with an action key (SAVE,SET, CLEAR) to set, recall, or delete a job respectively.Also, numeric value 9.

Used in conjunction with other keys to save a datatype. For example, pressing SAVE, POLY *n (*n =polygon #) saves the mark.

Menu Key Function


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Entering Numbers and Letters - General

When you need to enter numeric or alphanumeric values, the systemdetects if the value for the field selected can be only numeric or can bealphanumeric and automatically presents you with the appropriateentry window. For example, in the Logging Setup screen (Figure 1-4) the

Logging Interval and the Logging Speed can be only numeric values. Ifyou select either, the system presents you with the numeric entrywindow (Figure 1-5). Name, Pilot and Aircraft, however, can all be

Return to the data/map window.

Takes you to the Logging screen where you can start anew log or turn logging off/on.

Also, from the Logging screen that the LOG buttontakes you to, you can quickly transfer log files from

your M3 hard drive to your USB thumb drive (fortransfer to a PC for example). See Transferring OnlyLog Files on page 74.

Used in conjunction with other keys to viewinformation about a data type. For example, pressingINFO, MARK displays information about the mark inthe data window.

Used in conjunction with other keys to recall a specificdata type. For example, pressing SET, MARK *n,ENTER (*n = Mark #) gives you guidance back to themark. (Use the quick key RETURN to return to marksnumbered 1-9).

Also, SET, SET switches the display betweenNormal (daytime) and Dark (nighttime) mode.

Save changes and return to the map window.

Menu Key Function

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alphanumeric values so when you select them, the system presents youwith the alphanumeric entry window (Figure 1-6).

Figure 1-4: The Logging Setup screen

The procedure for entering values is different between the touchscreenand keypad versions of AirTrac.

Entering Numbers and Letters - Touchscreen

When you have navigated to the screen in which you want to entervalues, for example the Logging Setup screen, touch a fields labelledbutton. The system provides you with the appropriate entry window.

Touchscreen numeric entry window

In the touchscreens numeric entry window, touch buttons as requiredthen ENTER to accept your entry (that is, to save it). The entry screendisappears and the value you entered populates the appropriate field inthe logging setup screen (Logging Interval in our example).

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Touch EXIT to cancel your entry (that is, to not save it) and return to themap window.

Figure 1-5: Touchscreen numeric entry window

Touchscreen alphanumeric entry window

In the touchscreens alphanumeric entry window, as with the numeric

entry window, touch buttons as required then use ENTER or EXIT toaccept (save) or cancel (not save) your entry respectively.

Figure 1-6: Touchscreen alphanumeric entry window



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Entering Numbers and Letters - Keypad

When you have navigated to the screen in which you want to entervalues, for example the Logging Setup screen, use your keypad arrowbuttons to select a fields labelled button. The system provides you withthe appropriate input window. (See Navigating menu options with thekeypad on page 7.)

Keypad numeric entry window

With the keypad numeric entry window open, use the numbers on your

keypad to enter the required value.

Figure 1-7: Keypad numeric entry window

Note the help text at the bottom of the window that tells you to press:

LOG to enter a decimal point,

ENTER to accept your entry (to save it),

EXIT to cancel your entry (not save it).

Both ENTER and EXIT return you to the Logging Setup window.

Keypad alphanumeric entry windowWith the keypad alphanumeric entry window open, use the 1-9 keyguide displayed below the entry field help text to identify the keypadbutton to press to enter a particular number or letter.

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For example, to enter S in the field, press RETURN\7 repeatedly toscroll through 7, P, Q, R, and S. Press 1 to add a space.

After entering a character, press ENTER to continue. Press the downarrow to backspace (erasing the last letter). When you have finished,press EXIT to keep your entry and close the entry window or CLEAR toclose the window without keeping the entry (that is, to cancel it).

Figure 1-8: Keypad alphanumeric entry window

Zooming and Panning the Map Display

As with other operations, you zoom and pan the map window slightlydifferently for the touchscreen and keypad versions of AirTrac. Forexample, with the touchscreen you can pan manually by dragging onthe screen.

Zooming and panning with the touchscreen

With the touchscreen version, zoom and pan the map window asfollows:



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1. Touch ZOOM. The zoom/pan window appears.

Figure 1-9: The touchscreens zoom/pan window

2. Touch the buttons in this window to zoom and pan as follows:

to pan the map - touch the appropriate arrow key to pan thedisplay in the direction of the arrow or just drag in the mapwindow.

to zoom in/out, touch the appropriate key.

to center the display on the aircraft - touch CENTER. Continuetouching this button to toggle through the following centeringoptions:

prescription map (if active)

each active polygon in a job

everything (for example, prescription maps, polygons,and aircraft)

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Zooming and panning with the keypad

With the keypad version, zoom and pan the map window as follows:

1. Press ZOOM/PAN. A zoom/pan key guide appears below the Dateand Time fields of the main screen data window (as shown).

Figure 1-10: The zoom/pan key guide in the data window

2. Press keypad keys as indicated by the guide. For zooming, pressABC (up arrow) to zoom in, DEC (down arrow) to zoom out. Forpanning, press the keypad number key associated with the arrowthat points to where you want to pan. For example, to pan right,press 6 (POLY), to pan down/left, press 7 (RETURN).

3. To center the display on the aircraft, press 5 (WPT). Continuepressing 5 to toggle through the following centering options:

prescription map (if active)

each active polygon in a job

everything (for example, prescription maps, polygons, andaircraft).

4. To exit the zoom/pan window, press EXIT.

Switching Between the Screen Color OptionsAirTrac has both a normal (daytime) screen color mode and dark,(nighttime) screen color mode. You can switch between them bypressing SET twice on the virtual or real keypad (recommended) orthrough the menus (SETUP > SETUP > SCREEN > Mode).



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Before You Start

Each time you start AirTrac you have the option to select the USBthumb drive or the M3 hard drive as the logging read/write device. Thechoice you make affects various file transfer procedures. This is madeclear when file transfer procedures are discussed. For more informationsee Selecting the Logging Read/Write Device on page 66 andTransferring Data Files on page 72.

AirTrac comes with default factory settings that meet most usersneeds. You will, however, need to set some system-wide values and

options to suit your local requirements. When you have set these valuesor options, you are ready to start using AirTrac.

Note: AIrTrac can save your customized settings which you can thentransfer, via USB thumb drive, to a PC or other M3s. For moreinformation see Customized Settings on page 113.)

Understanding Local Time Offset, Units, GPSCoordinates and Laser (Altimeter) Offset

You need to set system-wide setting of local time offset, units ofmeasurement, GPS coordinates and a laser altimeter offset.

Local time offset

AirTrac is set to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). To convert to local time,you must know the time difference between GMT and local time forboth standard and daylight savings. For example, Arizona, U.S. islocated in the Mountain time zone and does not observe daylightsaving. So, to use AirTrac in Arizona, you would set the local timesetting to -07:00 (7 hours behind GMT).

Note: If you live in an area that observes daylight saving, you will needto set the local time twice a year.

Global units (of measurement)

Your AirTrac system comes preset with U.S. units. To use metric unitschange the Global Units setting. You can also assign units to individual

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data types (for example, speed, area) in the advanced Units Setupwindow.

GPS coordinates

The coordinates option tells AirTrac how you want to view GPScoordinates - in decimal degrees (the default), in decimal minutes, or indecimal seconds.

Ag. laser (altimeter) offset

The Ag Laser is a laser altimeter used to provide AirTrac with a distancefrom the aircraft to the ground/crop canopy (see Note following). Theoffset is a number that you can set to offset the difference between theactual mounting location of the Ag Laser (usually in the wing) and thelowest point of the aircraft (the landing gear) to determine exactly howhigh the lowest part of the plane is off the ground/crop canopy.

Note: About ground/crop canopy. The laser will bounce off of the

ground or off the canopy of whatever crop the plane is flying over if thevegetation is thick and hides the ground.

Setting Up Local Time Offset, Units, GPS Coordinatesand Laser (Altimeter) Offset

StepButton (whenapplicable)

Touchscreen version

1. At the virtual keypad (press KEYPAD), pressSETUP twice. The Setup 2 screen appears.



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Figure 1-11: The Setup 2 screen

2. Press UNITS. The Units screen appears.

Figure 1-12: The Units screen

3. Set the Local Time Offset from (+)14 hoursto -12 hours in half hourly increments.

StepButton (when

applicable)

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4. Set your Global Units. (Global means allthe units in your AirTrac. You can overridethe global setting for individual units in UnitsAdvanced Setup - see step 7). Select fromUS, Metric or Nautical.

5. Set the format of your Coordinates. Select

from:

DDD.DDDDDDD - decimal degrees

DDDMM.MMMM - decimal minutes

DDDMMSS.SSS - decimal seconds

6. Set your Ag. Laser Offset - the number to

allow for the difference between the actualmounting location of the Ag Laser (usually inthe wing), and the lowest point of the aircraft(the landing gear).

7. To override the global units for certainvalues, press SETUP in the Units screen. theUnits Advanced Setup appears.

StepButton (when

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Detecting Your Flow Control System

AirTrac automatically detects if a flow control system is connected andwhat type it is: AerialACE, IntelliFlow, or IntelliGate. If the systemdetects a flow control it displays the type at the top of the Flow Control

Setup window. If the system does not detect a flow control, it displaysa message to that effect at the top of the window. For more informationsee Flow Control on page 111.

Figure 1-13: The Units Advanced Setup screen

8. Change individual units from your global

setting. In the example, Volume and Area arereset to Metric from US.

StepButton (when

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Chapter 2: Work Options andParameters

Jobs and JOBS in AirTrac

Entering Basic JOB Details (Quick-Start)

Understanding Job and Log Data

Spray Options

Additional Flow Control Parameters

2: Work Options and Parameters


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irTrac opens with the AirTrac Setupwindow. The setup windowprompts you to enter the basic job details you need to quickly get

to work:

Pattern

Swath width

Direction (Left/Right)

Logging on/off

Note: In the following procedures we use the term press for using abutton for both the touchscreen and the keypad versions of AirTrac.

Jobs and JOBS in AirTrac

A job, in its generic sense, is a piece of work, such as flying/spraying a

pattern. When we are referring to a piece of work, we call it a job.

A JOB is an AirTrac entity comprising one or more polygons and one ormore flown patterns. A JOB can be saved, deleted, added to, subtractedfrom. When we are referring to this entity, we call it a JOB.

Note: On start up, AirTrac opens at the AirTrac Setup screen. If you exitfrom this opening screen, and you later shut down with a saved JOB

loaded, you will see that JOB is still loaded on restarting AirTrac. If youshut down with * active, you will see JOB 000 loaded. (Youget * active by pressing CLEAR > JOB > ENTER).

Warning: To protect your data, you mustexit (shut down)AirTrac before you turn the power source off. If you power offwithout first exiting AirTrac you risk corrupting your data. Dataintegrity can be ensured onlyif you exit AirTrac before powering

A

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off. Exit AirTrac by pressing CLEAR > CLEAR then selecting either YESor EXIT TO WINDOWS.

Entering Basic JOB Details (Quick-Start)

StepButton (when

applicable)

(Touchscreen version)

1. Press SETUP at the main menu. The AirTrac

Setup screen appears.



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2. Press PATTERN and select the pattern typeyou require from the drop-down list.

Figure 2-1: The pattern type list

3. Press AUTO REPEAT (to show YES) torepeat the current pattern when you havecompleted it.

If auto repeat is NO, AirTrac reverts to aBack-to-Back pattern when you havecompleted the current pattern.

4. Press SWATH WIDTH then enter the swathwidth.

5. Press LEFT/RIGHT to select a direction. Thebutton toggles between left and right.

StepButton (when

applicable)

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Note: If you complete the above procedure on the keypad version, andset the logging OFF at step 6, you can turn it back on with just threebutton presses: LOG > SAVE (Start New Log is highlighted) > EXIT. Thissaves you setting it back on using SETUP > LOG (down arrow x 3) >right arrow > SAVE (Start New Log is highlighted) > EXIT (seven

presses).

For more information on job functionality, see Saving and RecallingJOBs on page 83.

Understanding Job and Log Data

If logging is enabled (default setting), AirTrac automatically creates a

log file for each job flown, assigning the time/date stamp of each newlog as the log file name. You can enter additional details to your job,such as a name/number, pilot name, and aircraft name/number. This isoptional.

Note: This is job (a piece of work) information stored in the log, it is notJOB information (polygons and patterns). The optional job informationyou add through the Logging Setup screen becomes part of the log file.

Log Data

Log data includes exact positioning and rate of spray application,precise time and date record, flight speed, altitude, patterns flown, and

6. Press LOG then select to Start New Log orto Turn Logging Off.

By default, logging is ON. If you change it toOFF and are back in the map window, youcan save a step when turning logging backon by using KEYPAD > LOG > Start New Log

> Exit.

StepButton (when

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GPS position quality. AirTrac records this information in the log anytime you are above a pre-designated airspeed (the factory default is 45

m.p.h. but you can change this in SETUP > SETUP > LOGGING SETUP,Logging Speed field. For more information see Logging Defaults onpage 110).

Adding Job Information to the Log

You add Job information to the log in the Logging Setup screen(SETUP > SETUP > LOGGING SETUP).


Here you enter such information as a job name, pilot name and aircraftname in their respective fields. The entries appear in the blue flight databar above the data/map window in the order PILOT: AIRCRAFT: (Job)NAME.

You also set the logging interval and speed here and set New Log PerJob to Yes or No.

And you can transfer logs and files, view logs and clear (delete) logs

from the Logging Setup screen. See Viewing Log Data on page 67,Clearing Log Data on page 69, and Transferring Data Files onpage 72.

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Spray Options

AirTrac automatically detects if a flow control system is connected andwhat type it is: IntelliFlow, IntelliGate, AerialACE or AutoCal. If thesystem detects a flow control, it displays the type at the top of the FlowControl Setup window. If the system does not detect a flow control, itdisplays a message to that effect at the top of the window.

AirTrac supports constant rate and variable rate flow control, as well asliquid and dry application.

If you have a flow control system installed, you will need to set yourbasic job spray options in AirTrac, including:

Type of spray application (liquid or dry - displays in the flight databar as LIQUID or DRY)

Target spray rate (Gal/Acre liquid; Lb/Acre dry - US units)

Spray volume

You can also set AirTrac to spray with the entire boom (default setting)or only the left or right boom (shows in the flight data bar asBOOM:ALL/LEFT /RIGHT).

If defining and flying polygons, you may also want to set the flowcontrol system to automatically turn on/off when entering/leaving apolygon.

Finally, you may also want to change your flow lead time. Lead timerepresents the flow control systems reaction time to reach the properrate at the proper location.

The following section details spray option setup covering:

Basic flow control

Flow mode and target rate

Volume



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Setting Spray Options - Basic Flow Control

You set your spray options in the Flow Control Setup screen (SETUP> SETUP > FLOW CTRL orINFO\0 > INFO\0).

Figure 2-3: The Flow Control Setup screen

The Flow Control field has the following options:

Constant Rate:constant rate flow control.

Constant Rate Poly:constant rate flow control that automaticallyturns on/off at polygon borders.

Monitor Only:with Monitor Only selected you just monitor the flowsystem. In this mode, you control the flow manually. For example, youwould use this mode to calibrate your flow meter or for logging rates ifusing AutoCal.

Variable Rate:variable rate flow control that automatically adjusts theflow rate based on the prescription map you upload. For variable rate

spray applications you can select a prescription map from thePrescription Mapscreen.

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Figure 2-4: The Prescription Map screen

In this screen you can:

Load a map initially, or replace the current map with another one,by pressing ENTER with your required map selected.

Clear the currently loaded map (so no map on screen) by pressingENTER with selected.

The following table summarizes the flow control options and how thevarious parameters you can select in the three Flow Control setupwindows affect each option.

The defaults shown in the table below are recommended, but may notbe suitable for all applications.

Default

Lead Time(VariableRate)

DefaultLead Time

(Edge)

Auto BoomYes/No

Option

TargetRate

Variable

Rate

0.5 s 0.1 s YES - Pump On,Valve Static

NO - ValveClosed, Rate 0

N/A

ConstantRate

Poly

N/A 0.1 s YES - Pump On,Valve Static

NO - ValveClosed, Rate 0

N/A



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Setting Spray Options - Flow Mode and Target RateYou select Liquid or Dry to match your spray application type in theFlow Mode field and set your target rate in gallons per acre for liquidapplications or pounds per acre for dry applications (USUnits).


Setting Spray Options - Volume

You set the beginning hopper volume in the Volume field. This valuecounts down as material is sprayed. If you refill the hopper with thesame amount you can use reset the volume to the last amount you

ConstantRate

Manual

N/A N/A N/A ActualSprayRate

Default

Lead Time(Variable

Rate)

Default

Lead Time(Edge)

Auto Boom

Yes/NoOption

TargetRate

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entered using the Reset Volume button. And you can reset the totalsprayed area (as shown in the Data window) back to 0.

To reset the spray volume or area counters, you press Reset Volume orReset Total Area. The volume resets to the volume you entered in Step4 and the Total Area counter resets to 0.

Note: When AutoCal reports that it is using dry flow control, thevolume and rate is based on weight (Volume = 1000 kg; rate=100 kg/h).

Additional Flow Control Parameters

AirTrac has new flow control parameters. The additional parametersoptimize the calibration and functioning of AerialACEs variable rateflow control system. These are used only when running in AUTOBOOMON mode, restarting flow control at a different rate after closing of theboom during a turn or crossing an exclusion zone.

Currently, AerialACE uses feedback from the meter flow rate for control.With AUTOBOOM control, the valve can be left in position during turnsor across exclusion areas and restart close to optimal position.

Requirements having different rates for exiting and entering areas canresult in overshoot or undershoot on entering. A solution for this is togive an appropriate valve movement just before starting to place thevalve close to optimal position.

The amount of movement is dependent on the magnitude of differencebetween rates and the direction of travel.

Here is a description of the valve.

Max Flow Rate:the maximum flow rate in gallons/acre or lites/hectarethat is achieved by the system with the valve fully open.

Zero Poly Rate Adjust:the time in milliseconds that it takes for thevalve to go from fully CLOSED to fully OPEN. This should be tested

using the AerialACE toggle switch. It varies with motor type, valve sizeand aircraft voltage regulator valves, but typically it should be around2,000 ms for a two second time.



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Close Factor:The close factor compensates for any responsedifferences that may occur when sending short pulses to close and

open the valve. A close factor of 1.5 typically give the best performancewith AutoBoom.

Boom Shutoff Settings

Your boom options determine which booms are active (that is,spraying) during full and half-boom spraying operations. You set theseoptions in the Spray Boom Setup screen (SETUP > SETUP > FLOWCTRL > SETUP > SETUP).

Figure 2-6: The Spray Boom Setup screen

The boom shutoff options are ALL, LEFT or RIGHT. Only left and rightrelate to half-boom operations and the one you set here is the boomthat continues spraying in half-boom mode.

The following table shows which booms are active when sprayingbased on your boom shutoff selection.

Boom Shutoff Full / Half Boom Boom(s)Spraying

ALL Full (Half is N/A) Both

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Note: With the boom shutoff set to either left or right, you can usequick keys SET > LEFT RIGHT\3 to toggle between full-boom and half-boom. While operating in half-boom mode, HALF BOOM shows in themap window below your left display option in the Large Format Displayarea.

Other Boom SettingsMax Flow Rate:the maximum rate of flow through the valve. Thedefault is 6.0 gallons/acre (G/A) for liquid flow mode and 50.07 pounds/acre (Lb/A) for dry flow mode.

Zero Poly Rate Adjust:the time (in milliseconds) it takes the valve togo from fully closed to fully open field. The default is 600 ms.

Close Factor:the factor by which the closing time is increased

because the valve is working against the flow pressure. Our lab testinghas shown that a factor of 1.5 works best.

Note: These defaults were arrived at by testing these parameters withAirTrac running on an AerialACE flow control system with a 2.5-inchvalve at our facilities with our bench setup. Actual parameters may varyin the field.

Performing a Boom Test

Follow these step to perform a boom test.

LEFT Full Both

LEFT Half Left

RIGHT Full Both

RIGHT Half Right

Boom Shutoff Full / Half BoomBoom(s)

Spraying


1 P SETUP SETUP FLOW CTRL Th Fl C t l S t


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1. Press SETUP > SETUP > FLOW CTRL. The Flow Control Setupscreen appears.


2. Press SETUP > SETUP again. The Spray Boom Setup screenappears.

Figure 2-8: The Spray Boom Setup screen

3. Press BOOM TEST. This cycles the boom control on AerialACE andprovides feedback to AirTrac on whether the spray connections arewired correctly. In the preceding example, Spray On means theboom is connected correctly.

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Changing the Flow Lead Time


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Changing the Flow Lead Time

There are two types of flow lead time: variable rate lead time and edge

lead time.

Vrate Lead Time:Vrate (Variable Rate) Lead Time is the time inseconds it takes the system to switch rates. However, you shouldntneed to adjust this setting - AirTracs default setup is designed to adjustfor the rate changes automatically based on typical flight speeds.

Note: Vrate Lead Time will be grayed out unless you are running in

variable rate mode.

Edge Lead Time (On/Off):edge lead time On represents how earlythe flow control reacts to reach the proper rate at the proper location.Edge lead time Off represents how early the flow control begins to turnoff when exiting a polygon or prescription map.

To change the flow lead time:

1. Press SETUP > SETUP > FLOW CTRL. The Flow Control Setupscreen appears.


2. Press SETUP to open the Flow Control Advanced Setupwindow.

3. In the Flow Lead Time field, enter a flow lead time in seconds.


Setting flow control parameters


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Setting flow control parameters

Select from the following:

Min:the minimum percent value of the input voltage which wouldmake the motor turn.

If the input voltage is 28 volts and the MIN value is 10 volts, then thevoltage threshold it would need to pass to start turning the motor wouldbe 2.8 volts.

Max:the percentage of the input voltage designated as 100 percentoutput voltage.

If the input voltage is 28 volts and the MAX value is 80 volts, then themaximum voltage that would go to the motor would be 22.4 volts.

If the controller output is 100 percent and the MAX is 80 volts, then thefinal output is 80 percent.

Note: The should be no reason for you to change this value

PG:the proportional gain of the change from one rate to another. Thisvalue acts as the speed to go from one rate to another. Too much of thevalue causes an overshoot of the desired value in both directions. Toolittle of this value causes a slow rate of change to the desired rate.Overshoots caused by PG can be corrected to some extent by using ahigher DG value.

IG:the integral gain (IG) is the gain on the integral term. Integral is the

sum of steady-state error over time. Basically, this is the calculation ofthe difference between the actual and the desired to remove steady-state errors. This number will eventually get large enough to createvoltage to the motor which would make a more precise reading.

Note: Use this value only for diagnostic purposes.

DG:the gain on the derivative term rate-of-change of the error.

This value acts as a stabilizer to correct overshooting from other rates.Too much of this number causes slow changes. Too little of this numbercauses over/under shooting of the correct value and possibleoscillation.

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When DG goes up, both the responsiveness and the overshoot goesdown.

DB:the dead band of the change from one rate to another. This is theamount of acceptable error below which there is no control.

The DB valve is a percent (+/-) from the target rate. This only applies toAiralACE firmware 1.40 and above.

Note: There should be no reason to change this number.

DLY:delay is between the Boom On and when control begins tocompensate for pump turn-on delay.

The only reason someone might need to change this value is whenthere are added features like hydraulics to control the on and off points.



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Chapter 3: Pattern Guidance

Open and Closed Patterns

Flying Patterns

Available Pattern TypesManaging Data and Log Files

3: Pattern Guidance

his chapter covers patternsthe pattern types and how you seth d fl h I l d d l fil h


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them and fly them. It also covers data and log fileshow you

view, delete and transfer them.

Open and Closed Patterns

There are two basic classifications of patterns in AirTrac - open patternsand closed patterns.

In an open pattern, you can fly an unlimited, or open number ofswaths because the pattern is not dependent on the size of the field.

In a closed pattern, the number of swaths you can fly is limited, orclosed. The number of swaths you can fly is limited because in closedpatterns you define the width of the field.

Both open and closed patterns need an initial guideline on which tobase the patterns GPS coordinates. In AirTrac, this initial guideline iscalled the A|B line. Closed patterns need an additional defining pointC.

When you have entered the number of points required for a patterntwo or threeAirTrac places an array of swath guidelines on the screenwith the A|B line in red.

Understanding the A|B Line - Open Patterns

In an open pattern, point A of the A|B line is the beginning of the line;point B is the end of the line. All swaths you fly will be parallel to this

initial A|B line.

Note: The A|B line may be inside or outside of the field. Points A and Bshould be as far apart as possible to ensure the accuracy of the line.Establishing A and B points too close together can result in a small errorthat will create a large divergence over a long distance.

Understanding the A|B Line - Closed PatternsIn a closed pattern, you also set points A and B to define your A|B line.However, in a closed pattern, you define the width of your field bysetting a third point - the C point.

T

AirTrac User Guide

AirTrac automatically prompts you to set your A, B, and whenli bl C i t di t th tt l t


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applicable, C points according to the pattern you select.

Note: You can have AirTrac automatically place an A|B line for you. Ifyou load a JOB that has a polygon or polygons saved with it, when youpress ENTER > POLY > PATTERN, Airtrac places an A|B line on theoptimum side of the active polygon. You can move the A|B line to othersides as required. For a full description of this figure, see Rotating theA|B Line Around a Polygon on page 99.

Flying Patterns

When you have set your job options (see Chapter Work Options andParameters on page 25), you are ready to begin flying with AirTrac. Inthe example below, we have chosen to fly a back-to-back (BK-BK)pattern.

Note: The following example uses your factory default settings. If youchange the default setup you may see different data in your light bar.

Flying a Basic Pattern

1. Begin flying. Your light bar prompts you to set point A of the A|Bline (notice - - -A in the left LED display).

2. Fly to the beginning of your A|B line and press the remote swathadvance button to set your A point. The light bar prompts you toset your B point by flashing the upper row of LEDs.

3. Turn on your spray as you enter the field.

4. Press the remote swath advance to set your B point.

3: Pattern Guidance

If you are flying a closed pattern, the light bar next prompts you toset your C point C appears in the left display followed by your


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set your C point. C appears in the left display followed by yourcurrent swath number. Press the remote swath advance button toset your C point.

5. Turn off the spray as you leave the field.

6. Press the remote swath advance button to advance to Swath #2.

7. Make the turn onto your next swath using the light bar forguidance.

8. Turn the spray on as you enter the field.

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9. Fly Swath #2 using light bar guidance.The top row of LEDs show you the


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The top row of LEDs show you thedistance and direction (right or left) youneed to fly to get to the target swathline. The default right display tells youthe exact cross-track distance.

The bottom row of LEDs tells you theheading angle needed to intercept thetarget swath line. The default leftdisplay tells you the current swath

number.

Each LED represents a certain distance. For example, for cross-trackdistance (top row of LEDs), the more you are off-track, the moreLEDs are lit. When you are closer to your target, fewer LEDs are lit.For heading angle, the farther off-center the lit LED is, the fartheryou are off from the required heading angle needed to intercept the

target swath.

When the center vertical row of light barLEDs is lit, you are on the target swath.

10. Continue to fly the rest of your swathsusing light bar guidance.

Common Pattern Flying Tasks

Changing direction:To change direction, atany time while flying a pattern, from flying tothe right of the A|B line to flying to the left of it (or vice versa), press the

3: Pattern Guidance

LEFT RIGHT/3 button. The system transfers the swath guidance grid tothe other side of the A|B line.


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t ot o t |

Advancing/decrementing swaths:To change your remote swathadvance button to a swath decrement button, press SET > DEC. Tochange it back to swath advance, press SET > ABC.

Resetting the current pattern:To reset the current pattern, bring upthe keypad and press CLEAR > PATTERN\1 > ENTER. Waiting Aappears on the light bar. Your current spray data remains visible in themap window.

Recalling a saved pattern:To recall a saved pattern, press SET >PATTERN\1 n > ENTER.

Clearing the aircraft swath mark display:To clear the aircraftswath mark display in the map window, press CLEAR > SWATH\2.

Clearing or replacing a prescription map:To clear the activeprescription map from the map display, return to the Prescription Mapwindow in the Flow Control Setup screen by pressing INFO\0 > INFO\0and selecting Prescription Map. In the Prescription Map screen pressClear current PMap to clear the current (active) prescription map.

AirTrac User Guide

To replace the current prescription mapthat is, make a different mapthe active oneselect the prescription map below the Clear current


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PMap option and press ENTER.

Figure 3-1: The Prescription Map screen

Troubleshooting

When flying a pattern, you may get a light bar warning. Warningsinclude spraying a previously sprayed swath (double-spray warning),invalid or poor DGPS reception, or distance/time to polygons or

waypoints.

3: Pattern Guidance

When the system generates a warning your active guidance displaydisappears from the light bar. In its place you see flashing LEDs and/or


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additional error information in the left and right display screen.

Available Pattern Types

AirTrac supports ten pattern types, providing the flexibility to fly theshape of any field. In this section we will introduce the ten patterns thenlook in detail at how you fly them.

Note: It is important to distinguish between a pattern type and a flownpattern (a flown job). AirTrac comes with ten pattern types (of whichsome are open patterns and some are closed patterns), but you canstore as many as a hundred patternsflown jobsin a JOB.

Table 3-1: Light bar Warnings

Light bar Display Warning Message

Swath Double Spray

Upper LED row flashes when spray on is detected ona previously sprayed swath. This will flash until theswath number is changed. (By default this is turned

on. You can turn this feature off in Setup > Setup >Light Bar, Double Spray Warningfield.)Extrapolated GPS

Center yellow LEDs blink. Reboot system and checkfor receiver and power status lights. Refer to yourreceiver manual for more information on statusindicators.Poor DOP (Dilution of Precision)

Lower center yellow LED flashes. Check status lightson receiver. Reboot and wait up to 5 minutes for abetter solution. Increasing or decreasing your maskangle may also improve DOP. To change your maskangle, see your receiver owners manual.

AirTrac User Guide

Introducing the Available Pattern Types

The following section describes each of the ten available pattern types.


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The following section describes each of the ten available pattern types.

Back-to-Back (BK-BK) Multi Back-to-Back (MB2BK)Fly consecutive swaths parallelto the A|B line.

Fly multiple Back-to-Backpatterns. Tell AirTrac the numberof fields you want to fly (up to 9)and whether you want to fullrotate (123, 123) or half rotate(123, 321). AirTrac automaticallyrotates your A|B line for eachfield and provides guidance

accordingly.

Back-to-Back Skip (BKBKS)

Fly the odd-numbered swathsfirst, then the even numberedswaths.

3: Pattern Guidance


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Racetrack (RCTRK) Quick Racetrack (QKRTK)

Fly each side of a field, thenalternately work from Swath #2to the middle, and from themiddle toward the other end ofthe field. This pattern is usefulfor flying wide, smooth turns.

Fly a pattern similar to theRacetrack, but set your C point inthe middle of the field.

Reverse Racetrack (RVTRK) QuickTrack X (Quicktrac X)

Fly a pattern similar to theRacetrack. This is called theReverse Racetrack becauseyou are flying in one direction,

but swaths are incrementing inthe opposite direction. In thispattern, you set your A|B line inthe center of the field. Thispattern is useful for flyingcircular fields or other fieldswhere the center line is clearlyvisible.

Fly a pattern similar to the QuickRacetrack. You specify the 'C'point for Quicktrack X patterns bythe number of swaths or the

distance from A-B to thefurthermost swath in the pattern.After you have set the A and Bpoints, fly the pattern like a QuickRacetrack: the second swath is inthe middle of the field, the third isswath #2, and so on.

AirTrac User Guide


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Flying the Available Pattern Types

In this section we reiterate the main points about each pattern anddescribe how to fly the pattern.

Squeeze (SQUEZ) Expand (EXPND)

Fly loops of decreasing size,from the outside of the field tothe middle of the field. Thispattern allows you to makewide turns at the beginning of ajob when carrying a heavyload, and narrower turns asyour load becomes lighter.

Fly successive swaths outwardfrom the center of the field. Thispattern is useful for fields with avisible center line or a long,irregular shape.

3: Pattern Guidance

Back-to-back patterns

Fly consecutive swaths parallel to the A|B line


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1. Set your A|B line.

2. Fly swaths consecutively: 1, 2, 3, and so on.

Multi back-to-back patternsFly back-to-back patterns over a maximum of nine fields. Multi back-to-back patterns can be full rotate or half rotate patterns.

Note: In the two pattern examples following, the bold and the italictext highlights the difference in the swath order between full rotateand half rotate patterns. Regular text indicates that the swaths areflown in the same order in both patterns.

AirTrac User Guide

Back-to-back full rotate pattern:Field 1-Swath 1, Field 2-Swath 1,Field 3-Swath 1; Field 1-Swath 2, Field 2-Swath 2, Field 3-Swath 2.


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Back-to-back half rotate pattern:Field 1-Swath 1, Field 2-Swath 1,Field 3-Swath 1; Field 3-Swath 2, Field 2-Swath 2, Field 1-Swath 2.

AirTrac automatically rotates your A|B line for each field and providesguidance accordingly.

To fly a multi back-to-back pattern:

1. Enter the number of fields you wish to fly at the menu prompt.

2. Select either full rotate or half rotate.

3: Pattern Guidance

Full rotate means you will fly the first swath of each field andthen fly the second swath of each field starting again at field 1(for example, 123, 123).


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Half rotate means you will fly the first swath of each field, andthen fly the second swath of each field in the opposite directionbeginning with field 3 (for example, 123, 321).

3. Set your A|B line for each consecutive field.

4. Follow the guidance prompts to complete flying your pattern.

Back-to-back skip patternsFly the odd-numbered swaths first, then the even numbered swaths in aback-to-back pattern.

To fly a back-to-back skip pattern:


2. Fly your odd numbered swaths first.

3. Fly your even numbered swaths second.

AirTrac User Guide

4. To switch from odd to even numbered swaths, press ENTER.

Racetrack patterns


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Fly a series of loops, or racetracks. This results in wider, smootherturns. In a Racetrack pattern, you first fly each side of a field, thenalternately work from Swath #2 to the middle, and from the middletoward the other end of the field.

To fly a racetrack pattern:


2. Fly swaths in the following order: 1, 8, 2, 5, 3, 6, 4, 7.

3: Pattern Guidance

Quick racetrack patterns

These are is similar to the racetrack pattern. However, in a quick


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racetrack pattern you set your C point in the center of the field, not atthe end. This is called a quick racetrack because you do not have tofly to the end of the field to press the C point.

In the quick racetrack pattern you fly a constant size loop after settingthe A, B, and C points. Point C is the swath on or after the field centerline.

To fly a quick racetrack pattern:

1. Set your A, B, and C points.

2. Fly swaths in the following sequence: 1, 5, 2, 6, 3, 7, 4, 8.

AirTrac User Guide

Reverse racetrack patterns

These are also similar to the racetrack pattern. They are called a

t k b fl i di ti b t th


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reverse racetrack because you are flying one direction, but swaths areincrementing in the opposite direction. In this example, we are flying tothe right, but the swaths are incrementing to the left.

Unlike the racetrack pattern, in reverse racetrack, you set your A|B linein the middle of the field. Point C is still on the edge of the field. Thispattern is recommended for circular fields or other fields where thecenter line is clearly visible.

3: Pattern Guidance

To fly a reverse racetrack pattern:


2 For a 9 swath right reverse racetrack pattern spray the swaths in


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2. For a 9-swath right reverse racetrackpattern, spray the swaths inthe following sequence: 1, 6, 2, 7, 3, 8, 4, 9, 5.

QuickTrac X patterns

These are similar to the quick racetrack pattern. You specify point C forthe quicktrac X pattern by either the number of swaths or by thedistance from the A|B line to the furthermost swath in the pattern. Afterthe A|B points are set, you fly the pattern like a quick racetrack.

.

QuickTrac X by Number of Swaths (X = 5 Swaths)

AirTrac User Guide


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QuickTrac X by Distance: (where X = 500 Feet)

To fly a quicktrac X pattern:

1. Enter a value and select either Distance or Total Swaths at theprompt.

2. Set your A, B, and C points.

3. Fly the rest of the pattern according to guidance cues:

If x = total swaths: For example, if x=5 (total swaths), fly theswaths in the following order 1, 4, 2, 5, 3.

Note: To repeat the quicktrac X pattern after flying the initial definednumber of swaths, press the ABC button. The pattern repeats on swaths6-10 (so 6, 9, 7, 10, 8), then 11-15 and so on.

If x = distance: For example, if x = 500 feet (with Swath Widthset at 50 feet), fly the swaths in the following order: 1, 6, 2, 7, 3,8, 4, 9, 5, 10.

3: Pattern Guidance

Squeeze (SQUEZ) patterns

These consist of loops of decreasing size, from the outside of the field to

the middle of the field. In a squeeze pattern, you define the outsideedges of your field (the largest loop) by your A|B|C points


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the middle of the field. In a squeeze pattern, you define the outsideedges of your field (the largest loop) by your A|B|C points.

In the squeeze pattern, you to make wide turns at the beginning of yourspray job when your load is heavy then make narrower turns as yourload becomes lighter.

Tip!The squeeze pattern is typically used when carrying a heavy

load.

AirTrac User Guide

To fly a squeeze pattern:


2. For an 8-swath field, spray the swaths in the following sequence:


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, p y g q1, 8, 2, 7, 3, 6, 4, 5.

Expand patterns

These begin with the A|B line in the center of the field. Successiveswaths increase outward. Expand patterns are useful for fields with avisible center line or with a long, irregular shape.

3: Pattern Guidance

To fly an expand pattern:


2. For a 9-swath Expand Leftpattern, spray the swaths in thef ll i


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following sequence: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

Contour patterns

This is a future feature. Contour is disabled in the current version.

Understanding Marks (Return Points)Marks are points to which you want to return. When you mark a pointby creating a mark, AirTrac saves your current swathing information:

swath number

A|B line

JOB ID

swath width

pattern

direction

acreage

spray information

Creating/Numbering Marks

There are two ways to create a mark, one for marks numbered 1-9, theother for marks numbered 10-99.

To create marks numbered 1-9:Press the MARK quick key in themap window and enter a mark number in the number pad. Already

used numbers are indicated, but you can reuse them to reposition amark - that is, to overwrite its position to the new position.

To create marks numbered 10-99:Press KEYPAD > SAVE > MARK\4nn > ENTER.

AirTrac User Guide

The mark number is displayed in the map window, for example Mark #1is displayed as M1.

Note: AirTrac automatically saves your last sprayed point (last spray off


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point) as a mark zero (M0). However, this mark is overwritten each timethe spray is turned off. If you want to keep a spray off point marked,manually give it a mark number (n) immediately after turning spray off.You will get M0 and Mn (almost) together and Mn will stay while M0 willbecome the next spray off point. To return to the last sprayed mark,press RETURN\7 > INFO\0. The light bar provides guidance back to themark.

Returning to a Mark

There are two ways to return to a mark, one for marks numbered 1-9,the other for marks numbered 10-99.

To return to marks numbered 1-9:Press KEYPAD > RETURN\7 n. (Inthis case RETURN\7 is doubling as the return key and the mark key).

To return to marks numbered 10-99:Press KEYPAD > SET >MARK\4 nn > ENTER.

While returning to a mark, the light bar displays heading and distance tothe mark. Press ENTER to cancel the guidance.

Note: If you select the wrong mark to return to, you do not have tocancel guidance to that wrong mark. Just use either return methoddescribed above for guidance to a different mark.

Clearing a Mark

To clear a mark permanently from AirTracs memory, press CLEAR >MARK\4 n > ENTER.

Managing Data and Log FilesAirTrac enables you to transfer many different types of data betweenyour USB thumb drive and the M3 hard drive. These data types include

3: Pattern Guidance

logs, jobs, marks (marks.dat files), waypoints (wypts.dat files) and pilotsettings (airtrac.ini files).

You can also transfer any data stored on the USB thumb drive to yourpersonal computer (PC). Once on your PC you can, for example, view


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p p y y pdata in MapStar. You can also transfer MapStar data back to AirTracusing the USB thumb drive.

Note: If you select the M3 as the logging read/write device (seeSelecting the Logging Read/Write Device following) you will need totransfer data from the hard drive to the USB thumb drive beforetransferring data to your PC.

Selecting the Logging Read/Write Device

Each time you start up AirTrac, provided you have inserted your USBthumb drive, you will see the message Select LOGGING Read/WriteDevice. You can then select to have the M3 hard drive or the USBthumb drive as the logging read/write device (for all data files, notjust.log files). If you do not insert the USB thumb drive before start up,the system does not recognize the drive, you do not get the message,and the M3 hard drive is automatically set as the logging read/writedevice.

Note: Once the thumb drive is recognized and selected as the loggingread\write device, you can remove it and reinstall it as required whileAirTrac is running.

About Log Data Files and Job Data Files

Log files and JOB files are independent of each other. A JOB filecontains polygons and patterns. A log file contains the sprayinformation that comes from spraying a pattern and any additionalinformation that you entered, for example, pilots name, aircrafts ID.Although the JOB file is used as a boundary to spray in, the log file thatis created from spraying is not linked to that file. This means opening

one does not open the other.

You can open any job at any time, and you can view any log at any time.If you want to view a log file and a job file, for example to make sure

AirTrac User Guide

that you have sprayed the full field, you need to ensure that the log fileis from the field that the job file represents.

Viewing Log Data


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Viewing log data enables you to see a physical representation of whereyou sprayed, how much you sprayed, if you missed anything.

StepButton (whenapplicable)

1. Press SETUP > SETUP > LOGGINGSETUP. The Logging Setupscreen appears.

x2


2. Select View Logs. The Select Log Files to

View window appears.

3: Pattern Guidance

StepButton (when

applicable)


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Figure 3-3: The Select Files to View window

3. Use the UP and DOWN buttons to highlighta log to view then press SELECT. The log filemoves to the lower field (see log 1553 in

Figure 3-2). Repeat the select process forother files you want to view. Press OK toreturn to the map window.

4. When you have selected the files you want toview, press OK to return to the map window.The log with the lowest number is displayedon the screen. Use the Center button in the

Zoom window to cycle through the selectedlogs.

AirTrac User Guide

Clearing Log Data

AirTrac can hold up to 1000 hours of log timedepending on the

memory size of yo

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