Kubota are well-known for serving both the agricultural and estate maintenance market with a wide range of professional mowers and tractors.
The smaller machines are not often thought of as requiring automated guidance, but the company has introduced an entry-level auto-steer package to its range of products for agricultural and ground care machinery.
Priced from £5,520 (€6,000), and sourced through Topcon, the kit is called Value Line Steering and is available through the Kubota dealer network.
Accuracy options
There is a wide choice of accuracy options to suit various operational needs and budgets, which extend from 15cm pass-to-pass accuracy down to 1cm – the latter requiring a Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) signal.
The Value Line Steering kit includes the XR-1 GNSS receiver with built-in gyroscope and accelerometer, XW-1 electric steering wheel, and 10in, XC1 in-cab touchscreen terminal.
Integral software has eliminated the need for a mechanical wheel angle sensor, simplifying installation and set-up and thereby reducing the associated cost.
Universal fitting from Kubota
The company believes the new kit offers customers a price-sensitive package that delivers auto-steering functions to improve operational efficiency and reduce operator fatigue,.
The kit is universal in its fitting bringing precision steering to any Kubota machine equipped with a steering wheel.
Through Value Line Steering, operators can access any steering pattern required, including straight, centre pivot, curved, and custom guidance lines.
Available extras
In addition, more advanced features such as Steer-to-Boundary, Guidelock, and Headland Turns are also available, along with basic ISOBUS implement control.
Those seeking higher accuracy can opt for an RTK Value Line Steering kit, costing £7,545 (€8,200). The latter requires an additional 12-month RTK signal subscription costing £650 (€700).
While the Value Line Steering kit can be self-installed, an optional installation service is available, costing £695 (€815). The Topcon Value Line Steering kits come with two years’ warranty and two years’ customer support.
