Introduction of 360 Rain autonomous irrigation and liquid application system for row crops.

360 Yield Center announces the development of an autonomous irrigation and liquid application system for row crops.
360 RAIN takes a decades old irrigation method -the hose reel -mounts it on a mobile base and adds autonomous navigation to create a new concept to deliver water to row crops. By delivering bands of water directly to the base of the plant, 360 RAIN provides advantages over traditional irrigation methods:
•Lower water demands -operating on wells or reservoirs with 75% lessflow capacity of traditional pivot-systems
•Efficient delivery of nutrients such as nitrogen, sulfur, boron and other micronutrients•Coverage of 100% of the fields
•Ability to work in irregular shaped fields where center pivots are not practical
•Variable rate nitrogen, water and micronutrients
360 RAIN provides the “million-dollar rain” that grain producers long for -day and night -through the critical weeks of the growing season.
Delivering timely moisture
With a 60-foot boom, 360 RAIN applies water through Y-DROP-style drop hoses. Up to 2,900 feet of 3-inch diameter hose is dispensed by a computer-controlled reel. The machine moves up and down the crop rows as the well-tethered reel dispenses and retrieves hose. At 0.45 mph, 360 RAIN can apply over 2,000,000 gallons of water per week -the equivalent of one inch of rain over an 80-acre field from a well producing just 215 gallons per minute. And then start again. And again. Providing the three or four inches of critical moisture that activates soil microbes, enhances grain fill and allows plants to thrive.
Bringing irrigation to new regions
360 RAIN requires much lower volumes of water than traditional irrigation systems. Depending on field size, wells need to provide just 100 to 225 gallons per minute to the system. Plus, 360 RAIN can water irregular shaped fields that do not fit typical center pivot systems. The RAIN system also provides 100% field coverage -no special equipment needed to cover the corners that are typical in center pivot fields.

[@chester8420]

There isn't enough profit margin in the USA to do stuff like this even if you wanted the hassle... Somebody has to be there watching it 24/7 to reel it back up and move it to the next thru!

[@jimboak613]

not so Chester - Issac Asimov predicted robotic equipment like this back in 1950. This will operate just like those roombots or robot lawnmowers or the Monarch electric tractor. We mere humans will soon be obsolete. We will be able to produce food for 40 billion people but only 10 billion will have jobs that pay enough to buy food 🙂

[@tiborhorvath5238]

Could this system apply variable rate N, P based on yield map or grid soil sample P levels?

[@davidebonfante5241]

In Italia avrebbe un successo enorme.

[@mattbruns239]

Neat. Here in Ohio I am not sure how valuable it will be. I assume quite pricey.

[@nathanmackenzie1174]

$250-300k USD per unit is the number I'm hearing.....and each one only does 80acres.....

[@atherprince5929]

heey want to make one that works with a solar in Zimbabwe please help me

[@mustlovedogs272]

For a perfectly flat field that never develops a deep rut here and there in a strong rain, in other words, in a perfect world, maybe. But, why not just use an electric powered pivot that you can control from your phone while you're eating breakfast?

[@thomaskladar4464]

Can your center pivot do corners? So pay $60,000 just for a cornering system to add another 12 acres. This would be far more efficient cost per acre.

[@nathanmackenzie1174]

@@thomaskladar4464 the appeal of pivots isn't just cost per acre in a corner....the appeal is that it's (virtually) labour free operation. No more hydrants to deal with, no more hooking and unhooking irrigation. No worry that your tricycle found a rut and is sitting on its side in the field.....