How to Create a Path Plan with Curved Tracks

How to Create a Path Plan with Curved Tracks

Introduction

Path Plans for seeding lines in curves are essential for farming in hilly terrain or areas susceptible to erosion. They are developed with the goal of maximizing productivity, reducing environmental impact, and improving operational efficiency.

Before starting the curve path plan, it is important for the user to determine whether they want to use already constructed terraces as a reference for the planting line layout or if they prefer to work exclusively with the system's suggestions for creating the curve path plan.

This decision is crucial to ensure that the path plan meets the specific needs of the area and the cultivation goals.

If you wish to import terrace lines, consult the following article: https://support.vergeag.com/portal/en/kb/articles/add-field-s-with-the-select-boundaries-tool

Otherwise, follow the step-by-step guide below.

How to Create a Path Plan in Curves

The following steps aim to guide Launch Pad users on how to create a curved Path Plan, using the suggested contour lines as a reference.

Note: The contour lines you will see are not terraces; they are conceptual lines that do not exist in the field but represent the topography of the land..

Step-by-Step Guide

1- Select the desired boundary and click on "New Path Plan".



2- Check the option "Curved Tracks" and fill in the operation, equipment, headlands, and other information. Click on "Create Path Plan".


At this point, it is recommended to enable the "Slope" option in the advanced settings, as shown in the image. This will allow for a detailed analysis of the slope in your Path Plan.



Whenever you select a field, you will see three contour lines in red. It is important to remember that these lines are conceptual, placed in areas where the terrain experiences abrupt elevation changes. That's why they're referred to as Elevation Boundaries in the layers.



Note: You can toggle this layer on or off at any time.

Each of these lines can be used as a reference to create parallel lines. This way, the Path Plan will follow the natural contours of the land, reducing the risk of erosion and promoting better soil conservation.

3- Click on one of the contour lines, and it will appear in red with a thicker and highlighted line.



4- Choose the level of smoothing you want to apply to your reference.


5- Click "Update" to see the results.


Note on Smoothing: When working with curve Path Plans, it is crucial that the curves are passable, ensuring that machine traffic is not hindered. In other words, the curve must be designed in a way that machinery can easily follow it, without operational difficulties.

When working with contour lines, smoothing is often not respected in the original curve presented. To address this, Launch Pad offers three available smoothing levels, allowing the user to choose the most suitable one to ensure that the curves are passable and safe for machine traffic.

See the difference in the Path Plan lines with different smoothing levels:

  • No Smoothing: The planting lines follow the contour lines abruptly, without any adjustments. This may result in very sharp curves that are difficult for machines to follow.

  • Low Smoothing: The line is smoothed but still retains some abrupt changes. It may be easier for machines to navigate, but there are still areas of difficulty.

  • High Smoothing: The line is smoothed as much as possible, creating gentler and more continuous curves. This ensures that machines can follow the line with ease, avoiding any traffic issues and minimizing the risk of damage to the soil or machines.


Using One of the Field’s Boundaries as a Reference

Launch Pad also allows you to use a boundary (or part of it) as a reference. This feature is extremely useful when none of the contour lines provide a satisfactory result for your field, offering more flexibility in planning and ensuring that the planting lines better adjust to the land conditions.

Step-by-Step Guide to Adjusting the Border Reference

1- Look for the selected border. It will appear in a soft red. When selected, the border will become thicker, and you will see two endpoints, marked by white circles.


2- Click on one of the border endpoints and drag the mouse to the desired location. Release the cursor to fix the endpoint of the line at the new position
​

3- Repeat step 2 with the other endpoint of the line, adjusting it as needed.

If desired, choose one of the available smoothing levels.

Click "Update" to view the results and see the changes applied to your border reference.



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