The future of farming is here, and it’s automated. Agricultural machinery is undergoing a revolution, with robots taking over tasks like planting, spraying, and harvesting. At the heart of this transformation is the integration of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) antennas, which enable these robots to navigate fields with precision and efficiency. However, integrating these antennas into agricultural robots is not without its challenges. This is where Harxon, a leader in GNSS technology, steps in with tailored solutions to ensure seamless performance.
GNSS antennas are the unsung heroes of agricultural navigation. They act as the gateway to satellite signals, feeding data to a robot’s receiver to calculate its position with high accuracy. This precision is crucial for following pre-mapped routes, avoiding obstacles, and executing tasks without overlap or waste. The integration process involves embedding the antenna into the robot’s structure, connecting it to a GNSS module, and ensuring it works harmoniously with other sensors like IMUs and cameras for robust navigation. The antenna’s placement is strategic, typically on top of the robot, to maximise sky visibility while enduring the harsh outdoor conditions on farms.
However, the path to seamless integration is fraught with challenges. In dense crop environments, foliage can block satellite signals, reducing positioning reliability. Harsh weather conditions can degrade antenna performance or cause signal loss. Moreover, the antenna’s durability is tested by relentless vibrations from uneven farmland or machinery, risking physical wear or misalignment that can interrupt positioning continuity.
Harxon offers specialised antennas designed to tackle these issues head-on. Their products are widely used in precision agriculture, and their focus on customisation and performance makes them a go-to choice for agricultural machinery. Harxon’s GNSS antennas feature multi-point feeding technology and stable phase centres, ensuring millimetre-level accuracy even in obstructed environments. Their strong anti-interference capabilities filter out multipath noise, while wide beam widths allow tracking of low-elevation satellites – crucial in fields with uneven terrain.
For extreme conditions, Harxon’s Anti-Jamming Antenna uses beamforming technology and polarisation suppressors to maintain reliable positioning. The HX-CVX600A, with its IP69K-rated housing and metal base, resists dust, water, and vibrations, making it ideal for robots traversing muddy or rocky fields. For space-constrained robots, Harxon offers helix and OEM GNSS antennas tailored to demanding applications. These antennas deliver impressive gain and excellent low-elevation performance, ideal for precision tasks.
Harxon’s smart antennas are engineered for seamless integration with top-tier GNSS modules, such as Unicore and NovAtel. The TS112 Pro smart antenna, for instance, merges a GNSS antenna and receiver into a single unit, delivering RTK precision for tractors through various differential correction techniques. This all-in-one design minimises complexity, enhances compatibility with existing robotic systems, and accelerates development timelines.
Moreover, Harxon offers economical solutions tailored to applications with moderate precision needs or budget constraints. The HX-CSX627A is a cost-effective choice for ordinary use, while smart antennas like the TS112 SE offer standalone accuracy without the need for costly differential links, cutting operational expenses.
Harxon excels in custom tuning and configuration, expertly optimising GNSS antennas for seamless integration into diverse positioning ecosystems. By fine-tuning frequency bands, customising connectors and cables, Harxon ensures its antennas align perfectly with specific receiver requirements and operational demands. This harmonious coordination boosts overall system reliability and efficiency.
The HX-CSX600A antenna, for example, delivers standout performance tailored for agricultural applications. Its full-band gain exceeding 5.5 dBi ensures robust signal reception across vast farmlands, supporting uninterrupted navigation for autonomous tractors or robots. A 20-degree elevation gain of ≥-1.5 dB guarantees reliable signal capture in challenging terrains like field edges or hilly areas. With a vertex axial ratio below 1 dB and a front-to-back ratio over 15 dB, it effectively mitigates multipath interference from soil or machinery, enhancing precision for tasks like variable-rate fertilisation.
Harxon’s agricultural clients span the globe, and whether in remote areas, rugged terrain, or harsh climates, Harxon antennas consistently meet customers’ positioning needs. From field robots to autonomous tractors, agricultural transport vehicles, and farm drones, Harxon provides expert system integration advice and antenna tuning services, ensuring precision from prototyping to large-scale deployment.