Photo above: Connect Sprayer on the Autonomous Dot Platform
Connect by Pattison
Dot Ready Connect PLU S120 Equipment
Since April of 2018 Connect, a division of Pattison Liquid Systems, has achieved considerable field-testing success with the Dot autonomous platform. As of last fall, the Connect PLU S120 Sprayer had covered 7,000 acres of infield testing within Saskatchewan. This testing was completed on various types of geography from the flat Regina Plains to rolling hills in Southern Saskatchewan.
At the conclusion of the fall testing, Connect and Dot moved to Arizona to continue testing with the Maricopa Research Centre. This extended testing period proved to be important for Connect to help prepare for the 2019 spray season. Utilizing three 17-acre plots Connect was able to cover another 6,500 acres of field testing, resulting in added user improvements along the way. The boom height controller was upgraded to Raven’s new innovative AutoBoom XRT. With the ground sensors using radar technology, XRT can simultaneously detect ground and canopy height to maintain the optimal spray height set by the user.
From the initial proto-type S120, many revisions in sprayer efficiencies have led to a production ready design. The spring of 2019 is the first year Connect has offered production ready equipment to producers.
New PLU S132 Version
Moving to the spring of 2019. Connect manufactured a larger 132-foot sprayer, adding 12 feet to the standard 120-foot version. The sprayer outfitted on Dot was used to top-dress 1,600 acres of liquid fertilizer pre-seeding in the Regina SK area.
The 2019 Connect sprayers have enhanced operator safety compared to the previous version. Users now have more accessibility to the product tank and product loading valves. Time has also been focused on reducing boom weights and product volume in the spray lines, allowing more efficient operation.
Pictures Left and Right:
New 132′ Connect Model
Connect Sprayer Features:
1600 US gal stainless steel product tank,
100 US gal rinse tank,
120, 132-foot Millennium aluminum booms options,
Raven Hawkeye,
Prescription maps
Turn compensation
Individual nozzle control
Individual nozzle diagnostics
Raven AutoBoom XRT,
Stainless steel recirculating wet booms,
Better sectional control (faster reaction times)
Zero waste priming
Reduced water use during rinsing
Reduced nozzle plugs by repeated product filtration
New Connect Pull-Type Frame
June has also given Connect the opportunity to utilize the sprayers in another application as a pull-behind. By manufacturing a similar frame to the Dot platform, farmers have the option to use a Connect sprayer as a Dot Ready sprayer, or a pull-type by simply changing frames.
The first pull-type frame was released in June of 2019. Using a John Deer 7200R tractor, the new pull-type version covered 5,000 acres of in crop spraying. This new pull-type option comes with 800 metric tires allowing for decreased compaction and greater flotation.
Connect Pull-type Testimony
Aberhart Farms Inc.
As our farm has expanded to 15,000 acres we were at a point where at certain times we needed or could use extra spraying capacity. Specifically during herbicide application when at times we should be doing first pass Canola at the same time as cereals. With the cost of new high clearance sprayers very high and being in the situation that two high clearance sprayers would be more then we need, we started thinking about pull types as a good way for us to fill the gap.
We did a lot of research and number crunching before deciding to go with the Connect Sprayer from Pattison. At 1600 gals and a 132 foot suspended boom, as well as all the new technology you would find on a new high clearance, we thought this would be a good asset on the farm.
Raven Hawkeye
The Raven Hawkeye system with individual nozzle control saved us 2-4 percent over our current 11 section self propelled unit. The circulating boom and new Raven boom height control systems worked very well. On the farm we have numerous MDFW tractor and or 4WD’s that could pull the connect sprayer that are not being utilized at this time during the year.
Rising Equipment Costs
With equipment costs continuing to move higher each year, we felt that for roughly 1/3 of the cost of a high clearance sprayer this would be a great option to help fill the gap and get better utilization of our equipment. The unit exceeded our expectations, worked very well and is also quite a simple system. The fact that it also can be used with the DOT autonomous platform is a bonus as well.
“We where able to operate comfortable at 12 mph and could cover a good 1/4 section or 160 acres in about 75 minutes. Which is just a bit longer then it would take to cover with our 120 foot high clearance sprayer. The team at Pattison’s was great to work with, was very responsive to any issues we had and helped us work through the learning curves of setting up and operating a new machine. I would highly recommend taking a close look at this unit for your operation. The innovation we see coming out of western Canada and a dedicated team behind it gave us the confidence to try the Connect system out. We have been very happy with the results and feel confident in working with the great team at Pattison Liquids Systems.” Terry Aberhart
Contact
For more information regarding Connect equipment contact Tim Pattison at Tim@liquidsystems.net.
To stay connected with our progress follow us on twitter at @PattisonLiquid
