With the ever-increasing cost of spray material and labor, autonomous spraying is an impressive tool for improving productivity and overall operation. GUSS (Global Unmanned Spray System) resolves many of the challenges growers face. Not only does GUSS minimize exposure to the material being sprayed, but precisely controls application rates and sprayer speeds across variable terrain.
In 2014, when commercial spray business owner, Dave Crinklaw drew a design on his shop floor of what he envisioned the solution to his labor challenges and inefficiencies to be, the journey to building the first autonomous sprayer began. After several years of prototype development and refinement, the award winning GUSS was delivered to the first customer in 2019. With GUSS, a single operator can now monitor and operate a combination of up to eight GUSS, mini GUSS and Herbicide GUSS sprayers from the comfort and safety of a pickup truck using a laptop computer.
GUSS uses a combination of GPS, LiDAR and the latest technology to drive autonomously through the orchard. GUSS removes the driver from the tractor to save labor and eliminate exposure to the material being sprayed. With a 600-gallon tank, 3.8-liter 173 hp Cummins diesel engine and 36-inch engine driven fan, this 24-feet long sprayer includes a 32-nozzle spray manifold with individual shutoffs. This machine autonomously rolls through the orchard, row after row, field after field, day or night to get the job done.
See GUSS, mini GUSS and Herbicide GUSS in action at www.GUSSag.com!
