With business areas covering Koriyama and Shirakawa cities, Fukuryo Machinery Sales Co., Ltd. is tackling regional issues like labor shortages, an aging workforce, and population outflow through smart agriculture. This case study summarizes the feedback of farmers who utilize FJDynamics' autosteering system on their farms, the visible effects of its actual operation, and the process of implementation.
Repeatable Efficiency Without Relying on Intuition
In local paddy fields, jobs done before planting—like preparing the mud (puddling) and driving long straight lines—have been very hard work for farmers. During the busiest times, it's tough to take breaks, and after the sun goes down, it's hard to see the guiding markers. Farmers used to rely on their skill and guesswork to stay straight, but this often meant the work quality wasn't the same everywhere, or they drove over the same spots twice, or missed areas.
The FJD autosteering system fixes this by retrofitting the existing steering wheel of the tractor. Operators just pick points A and B on a tablet, and the tractor drives the line very accurately. This takes away the stress of having to steer constantly.
Even though FJDynamics says the system is accurate to within ±2.5cm in its manual, farmers who use it report that the accuracy is usually within about 1cm. Since this is just an add-on (a retrofit), it can be used on older tractors. This lets farmers turn their old machines into useful tools without having to spend money on buying new ones—a smart choice for investment.
No Worries at Night or from Water Glare
Mr. Saito, a farmer who uses the FJD system, noticed the greatest change during the busiest time of year. Because the FJD system handles straight-line driving, he had more free time during the workday, and he could keep driving straight lines at night without stress. Even when the sun reflecting off the water made it hard to see the path, he could easily follow the guidance shown on the tablet.
The system shows him exactly where the tractor has driven and how much area is left. For older workers, they felt much less tired at the end of the day. Plus, farmers who only work part-time could use the system quickly after just a little training. Since the machine does the steering, the quality of the work no longer depends on how much experience the driver has. This consistent quality brings peace of mind every day.
RTK Power: Straight Lines and Field Mapping
The system is highly accurate because it uses RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) technology, which combines GNSS signals with precise corrections. Since more ground stations are being set up in Fukushima Prefecture, farmers get reliable corrections if they are within about 10km of a station. The accuracy slowly drops if they are farther away, but it is still good enough for jobs like plowing and leveling the land.
To start, the system is installed with three main parts: the GNSS receiver, the motor steering wheel, and a tablet. After a simple setup, the operator first drives the tractor around the edge of the field to save the boundaries. Then, they mark the starting point (A) and ending point (B) to set the driving direction. After this, the system takes over the steering, and the tractor even makes smooth U-turns based on the plan shown on the tablet.
Because the field information can be saved and opened later, starting up is even faster next year. As operators learn the FJD system better, their setup gets quicker, which lowers the physical burden of driving and reduces the time needed for management and checking the work.
The Value of Investment: Good for Farms and People
When the automatic steering system drives perfectly straight, the first thing farmers save is waste. Their tractor stops driving over the same spot twice or misses areas. This means more savings on fuel and materials. Also, drivers are no longer stressed out from steering for long hours. This lowers body pain and tired eyes, so they feel more energetic after their shift.
Because the work is easier, drivers can work longer hours, even at night. This helps older farmers keep working. It also makes the job more appealing to younger people because it uses "modern technology". Since farmers can add the system to their current machines, they get more value from the equipment they already own. They can also install the system in stages (piece by piece) to manage cost and risk.
As more RTK base stations are built in the area, the FJD system will work better for everyone. It's clear that this technology does more than just make the tractor run better. It helps make farming more stable for the long term and creates better job opportunities for the whole community.
Transforming Peak Season with Farmer-Friendly Tech
The FJD autosteering system makes work quality the same every time, saves money, and reduces how tired the driver gets, all because it drives perfectly straight. The driving line stays on track, even when it's dark or the sun reflects off the water. Since farmers can put it on older tractors, the money they already spent on those machines still pays off today.
In response to structural issues like labor shortages and aging, smart agriculture offers a practical solution: increasing productivity in a farmer-friendly manner to support regional farming. With operations based in Koriyama and Shirakawa cities, Fukuryo Machinery Sales Co., Ltd. designs solutions tailored to field conditions and business situations, and provides support with an emphasis on on-field experience. The first step is to check the field and communication environment. Farmers can start preparing for easier seasons today.