John Deere Examines LEO Possibilities in Agriculture

US agricultural farming giant John Deere is likely to deepen its relationship with the satellite sector over the next few years. The company has a history with satellite and began to develop its StarFire Network in 1998. It was one world’s first global satellite-based augmentation systems capable of real-time accuracy within a quarter of an inch. John Deere is only one of a handful of companies that has its own global satellite correction network to enable this level of precision. The system works by pairing a network of reference stations – which have a known location – with the GPS receivers in the cabs of the company’s machines. It allows John Deere tractors to drive themselves, place seeds, and develop accurate geospatial maps. Al Savage, manager of the StarFire Network, says John Deere is one of many companies looking at the potential of Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, but he does not necessarily see LEO satellites as a game changer for a company like John Deere. “When you look at the sharing of big data that needs to happen quickly, the LEOs could become very popular in this space, particularly in filling connection gaps in rural areas," he said. "We are on the doorstep of creating a lot of the same features for our customers today. But, I do think [LEOs] will make things more robust. I can see it advancing the game as time goes on, rather than changing the game.”