Autosteer or GPS Guidance: What Is the Difference and Which Solution Should a Farm Choose?

Autosteer systems, agricultural guidance systems, GPS guidance for tractors, in-cab displays, and monitors are terms frequently encountered when selecting precision agriculture equipment. At first glance, these solutions may look similar: a GNSS receiver is mounted on the roof of the machine, a display is installed in the cab, and the operator works with digital guidance lines.

However, based on how agricultural machinery is controlled, these solutions can be divided into two main categories:

• an agricultural guidance system shows the operator where to drive;
• an autosteer system automatically keeps the machine on a predefined path.

The display, monitor, or terminal is part of the agricultural guidance or autosteer system. It allows the operator to view guidance lines, configure the system, monitor positioning accuracy, and manage the available functions.

In practice, the capabilities of different systems may partially overlap. For example, a modern display may be used for GPS guidance, autosteer control, implement management, and other digital farming operations.

Equipment should therefore be evaluated not only by its name, but primarily by its functionality, configuration, compatibility, and potential for future expansion.

What Is an Agricultural Guidance System?

An agricultural guidance system is a satellite-based navigation solution for agricultural machinery. It determines the machine’s position, generates guidance lines, and shows the operator how far the machine has deviated from the selected path.

After the first pass, the system generates subsequent parallel or curved guidance lines. The operator can see on the display which direction to steer and how much the course needs to be adjusted, but still turns the steering wheel manually.

This is the key difference between a guidance system and autosteer: a guidance system assists the operator but does not steer the machine automatically.

This type of solution is suitable for operations that do not require continuous centimetre-level accuracy, including:

• mineral and organic fertiliser application;
• spraying;
• cultivation and seedbed preparation;
• disc harrowing;
• working at night or in conditions of fog or heavy dust;
• the initial implementation of parallel guidance.

Even a basic guidance system can help reduce overlaps and skips. The actual economic benefit depends on the implement width, field configuration, signal accuracy, operator experience, and the number of operations performed during the season. It would therefore be incorrect to promise the same percentage of savings for every farm.

Hexagon Agricultural Guidance Solutions

The FRENDT portfolio includes Hexagon solutions for navigation and field operation management. Depending on the model and configuration, these systems may support different guidance patterns, high-accuracy correction services, autosteer operation, field boundaries, and various digital farming technologies.

The Hexagon product range available from FRENDT includes the Ti5, Ti7, and Ti10 terminals. The Hexagon Ti7 is positioned as a field terminal for managing guidance, autosteer, and digital agricultural technologies, while the Ti10 features a 10-inch touchscreen display and is designed for monitoring and managing field operations.

This is an important example of why the terms “agricultural guidance system” and “field terminal” may sometimes overlap: a single device can do more than display a guidance line — it can also serve as the interface for other systems.

Why Is ISOBUS Needed?

ISOBUS is an international communication standard for tractors, field terminals, and mounted or trailed implements. In simple terms, it allows equipment from different manufacturers to “speak the same language.”

Provided that the equipment is compatible, a single terminal can be used to control different machines, eliminating the need to install a separate monitor in the cab for every implement.

For example, when a farm uses an ISOBUS-compatible planter, its operating parameters can be configured directly through the field terminal. When switching to another ISOBUS-compatible implement, the operator can continue working through the same display without having to adapt to a different interface.

However, ISOBUS support does not automatically guarantee compatibility across all functions. Different manufacturers may support different parts of the standard. Before selecting equipment, it is therefore necessary to verify the compatibility of the tractor, field terminal, implement, and required functional modules, such as UT, TC-SC, TC-GEO, or AUX-N.

What Is an Autosteer System for a Tractor?

An autosteer system for agricultural machinery is an automatic steering solution that uses GNSS data to keep the machine on a predefined path through an electromechanical steering drive or integration with the machine’s hydraulic steering system.

Autosteer does not make the machine fully autonomous. The operator remains in the cab and continues to monitor the surroundings, headland turns, implement operation, and overall safety.

The system itself takes over the precise steering of the machine along the selected path. In advanced configurations, it may also perform automatic headland turns.

The operating principle is as follows:

1. The GNSS receiver determines the machine’s coordinates and direction of travel.
2. A correction signal improves the accuracy of the calculated position.
3. The controller compares the machine’s actual position with the predefined path.
4. The system calculates the required steering adjustment.
5. An electric motor or hydraulic steering circuit changes the machine’s direction.
6. The operator supervises the machine and the field operation.

Automatic steering is particularly useful during long working shifts, night-time operations, planting, spraying, fertiliser application, inter-row cultivation, and other operations where maintaining a consistent path is essential.

Electromechanical and Hydraulic Autosteer: What Is the Difference?

Electromechanical Autosteer

An electromechanical system turns the steering wheel using an electric drive. Its main advantages include:

• relatively quick installation;
• minimal modification of the machine;
• compatibility with a wide range of machinery;
• easier transfer between machines, provided that the system configuration allows it.

This is a common solution for upgrading tractors, sprayers, and other machines that are not factory-prepared for automatic steering.

Hydraulic Autosteer

A hydraulic system acts directly on the machine’s steering circuit or uses its factory-installed steer-ready configuration.

This type of system generally provides smooth steering and seamless integration, but it requires professional equipment selection, installation, and calibration.

The choice between electromechanical and hydraulic autosteer should not be based solely on the size of the farm. It depends on the machine design, operating conditions, required working speed, the need to transfer the system between machines, and the available budget.

Autosteer Systems Available from FRENDT

FRENDT offers different types of automatic steering systems from several manufacturers. The company’s portfolio makes it possible to select equipment for a specific machine and technological task, rather than forcing the farm to adapt to a single universal system.

TerraNavix

TerraNavix is an electromechanical automatic steering system for agricultural machinery. When used with RTK correction, it provides accuracy of up to ±2.5 cm and operates at speeds ranging from 0.5 to 18 km/h.

The system supports multi-constellation GNSS positioning, 4G, Bluetooth, CAN, and other connectivity interfaces.

TerraNavix can operate with free satellite-based correction services suitable for less demanding field operations, as well as with RTK correction, which provides centimetre-level accuracy for planting, inter-row cultivation, fertiliser application, spraying, and other operations requiring precise pass-to-pass repeatability.

One of the key advantages of TerraNavix is its broad compatibility with agricultural machinery. The system can be installed on modern tractors manufactured in Ukraine and abroad, as well as on older-generation machines, including MTZ tractors commonly used by Ukrainian farms.

Equipping older machinery with autosteer can significantly improve the accuracy of field operations, reduce operator workload, and bring the machine’s functionality closer to modern precision agriculture standards without requiring the farm to replace it.

TerraNavix can be used for planting, soil tillage, fertiliser application, spraying, and harvesting.

Actual operating accuracy depends on the selected correction service, installation and calibration quality, the machine’s technical condition, terrain, and implement settings.

CHCNAV NX510 Pro and NX612

The CHCNAV NX510 Pro is an automatic steering system designed for upgrading both new and used agricultural machinery.

According to the manufacturer, the system provides pass-to-pass accuracy of up to ±2.5 cm. It features electric steering, a 10.1-inch display, and support for several correction sources.

The CHCNAV NX612 is also an electromechanical automatic steering system. It features a 12.1-inch display, supports multiple positioning modes and guidance patterns, and can be installed on wheeled, articulated, tracked, and other compatible machinery.

The maximum accuracy stated by the manufacturer is up to ±2.5 cm.

Hexagon Systems

The FRENDT portfolio includes electromechanical and hydraulic Hexagon automatic steering systems that can be adapted to most types and models of agricultural machinery, depending on their design and level of factory preparation.

One of the main advantages of Hexagon solutions is the ability to develop a precision agriculture system gradually.

The autosteer system can be combined with the Hexagon Ti5, Ti7, and Ti10 field terminals, which serve as the central interface for managing digital processes in the cab.

Depending on the display model, the operator can access:

• agricultural guidance;
• autosteer configuration and control;
• RTK correction services;
• field boundary and guidance-line creation;
• documentation of completed operations;
• ISOBUS functions;
• prescription maps;
• other precision agriculture capabilities.

This enables farms to expand the system gradually as their operational requirements evolve, without having to replace all existing equipment.

Ag Leader Systems

Ag Leader automatic steering systems are based on a modular architecture and can be adapted to different types of agricultural machinery.

SteerCommand Z2 is an integrated automatic steering system that works with the InCommand Go 10 or InCommand Go 16 field displays.

On tractors equipped with a factory steer-ready system, SteerCommand Z2 connects directly to the machine’s CAN bus.

When the machine does not have factory preparation for automatic steering, SteerCommand Z2 can be installed with a hydraulic valve block, providing precise automatic steering.

SteadySteer is an electromechanical automatic steering system that acts directly on the steering wheel. It can be retrofitted to almost any compatible machine that supports the InCommand Go 10 or flagship InCommand Go 16 field displays.

This solution is suitable for farms seeking to automate steering quickly without making extensive modifications to the machine.

Both systems support high-accuracy positioning signals and integrate with other Ag Leader solutions, creating a unified precision agriculture ecosystem.

Why Is RTK Correction Needed?

RTK is a real-time correction technology that enables centimetre-level positioning accuracy.

A GNSS receiver can also determine coordinates without a correction signal. However, its accuracy and repeatability may be insufficient for planting, inter-row cultivation, or returning to the same controlled traffic lanes.

RTK is particularly important for:

• planting row crops;
• Strip-Till and banded input application;
• inter-row cultivation;
• establishing permanent traffic lanes;
• repeated passes along the same guidance lines;
• operations where an error of several centimetres can affect crops or the quality of the work.

Other correction services may be sufficient for less demanding operations.

RTK should therefore not be purchased automatically by default. The required level of accuracy should be selected according to the farm’s specific technology and operations.

How to Select Equipment Without Unnecessary Costs

The selection process should begin not with a brand or display size, but with a list of the operations the system will be expected to perform.

An agricultural guidance system may be sufficient when:

• the machine is used primarily for soil tillage, spreading, or spraying;
• the operator is prepared to correct the course manually;
• the farm is only beginning to implement parallel guidance;
• centimetre-level repeatability is not critical.

An autosteer system is advisable when:

• operator workload needs to be reduced;
• the machine operates for many hours or at night;
• consistent and repeatable passes are important;
• the farm performs planting, inter-row cultivation, or strip-tillage operations;
• the system is expected to be used actively across several different operations.

Before ordering equipment, the farm should verify its compatibility, available correction services, regional service coverage, warranty terms, and the cost of future licences or feature activations.

Common Mistakes When Selecting Equipment

The first mistake is comparing systems based only on their purchase price.

The total cost of ownership includes installation, feature activations, correction services, technical support, software updates, and the potential cost of transferring the system to another machine.

The second mistake is choosing equipment without verifying compatibility.

The presence of CAN, ISOBUS, or a factory steer-ready configuration does not automatically mean that a machine is compatible with every system.

The third mistake is purchasing an unnecessarily advanced configuration.

When a farm does not intend to use prescription maps, section control, or ISOBUS, paying for these functions will not necessarily produce an economic benefit.

The fourth mistake is underestimating the importance of calibration.

Accuracy is affected by machine parameters, steering play, antenna position, implement geometry, and terrain compensation.

The fifth mistake is failing to consider technical support.

During planting season, equipment specifications are not the only consideration. The ability to receive prompt technical assistance is equally important.

An agricultural guidance system helps the operator follow the selected path. An autosteer system automatically keeps the machine on that path.

The effectiveness of the solution is determined not by the number of devices installed in the cab, but by how well the system matches the farm’s actual requirements.

When selecting equipment, farms should consider the type of machinery, field operations, required accuracy, implement compatibility, availability of correction services, and plans for future technological development.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can an Autosteer System Operate Without RTK?

Yes, provided that the system supports other correction sources.

However, positioning accuracy and repeatability will depend on the selected signal. RTK or another correction service of a comparable accuracy level is generally used for high-precision operations.

Can Autosteer Be Installed on an Older Tractor?

Yes.

The FRENDT portfolio includes automatic steering systems that can be installed both on modern agricultural machinery with factory-installed steer-ready configurations and on older-generation tractors, including MTZ and other models commonly used in Ukraine.

The final feasibility of installation is determined after assessing the steering system design, electronic architecture, technical condition of the machine, and compatibility with the selected autosteer solution.

In many cases, retrofitting an older tractor can significantly improve the accuracy of field operations, machine productivity, and operator comfort without requiring the purchase of a new tractor.

Can an Autosteer System Be Transferred Between Machines?

Some electromechanical systems can be transferred between machines.

Additional mounting brackets, wiring, machine profiles, and recalibration may be required.

Does Autosteer Work at Night?

Yes.

The system uses satellite coordinates rather than visible wheel tracks or field markings. The operator remains responsible for safe operation and continuous supervision of the implement.

Is a Field Terminal an Autosteer System?

No.

A terminal is an interface for system control and data visualisation. A controller, GNSS receiver, and steering actuator are required to turn the steering wheel automatically.

Which System Should a Farm Purchase First?

The farm should begin with the system that solves a specific production problem.

An agricultural guidance system may be sufficient for reducing overlaps during input application.

For precision planting and repeatable field passes, an RTK-enabled autosteer system is generally the more appropriate solution.