SD Drain Ditch
Cutting Edge Technology
How does it work?
SD Drain® Ditch uses RTK-GPS data to create variable slope ditches where you move the least amount of soil to make water flow. SD Drain® Ditch receives elevation data from your RTK GPS receiver and automatically outputs signals to the hydraulics that control your scraper. An optional slope sensor allows for extra input data. The slope sensor can also be used for blade tilt control, if your equipment supports that option.
Click on the dots below to learn more
Window Button
See what your ditch path looks like from the side. The green area is what you’ll cut away to make water flow down the ditch. The pass lines divide your ditch into manageable cuts for your scraper. For more information on pass lines, scroll down to the Cut section.
Side Profile View
See what your ditch path looks like from the side. The green area is what you’ll cut away to make water flow down the ditch. The pass lines divide your ditch into manageable cuts for your scraper.
Cut Button
Choose from one of 3 ways to cut your ditch:
Design Cut – Automatically cuts top, unworked pass line. The distance between pass lines is a user defined parameter called Pass Depth. This setting can be modified to reflect your scraper’s ideal cut depth based on current field conditions.
Pass Cut – Automatically cuts to an operator selected pass line. Pass lines are numbered from the bottom up so the final grade line is always pass 1, then next line up is pass 2, and so on.
Single Cut – The pass lines are removed. Automatically cuts to a single, final grade line. The operator can adjust the cut depth by tapping the triangles on horizontal light bar to offset the grade line. The offset distance is shown in the upper left-hand corner of the screen, above the horizontal light bar.
Overhead View
See where you are in the field. You can add your own background image or import data for an optional 3D view of your field.
Backslope Window
Shows a cross sectional view of your ditch with your current blade location, current slope, and designed backslope. This window can be closed when not in use.
Vertical Light Bar
This is a visual reference (left image) to show the user how deep the cut is versus how deep it should be. The Vertical Light Bar also allows the user to quickly offset the cut from the Final Grade Line (right image).
Default visual settings for on/off grade are shown on the left image. Settings can be modified by the user.
The right image shows where you can tap to offset the current cut from the Final Grade Line. Tap the wide end of the triangle to offset a lot or tap the small end of the triangle to offset a little. Default settings are shown. Large and small offsets can be modified by the user.
SD Drain® Ditch Systems Include:
- PX501 Sunlight Readable Tablet PC
- SD Drain Ditch Software
- DAC 8000 Controller with wireless connection to PX501
- Associated Cables to plug DAC 8000 Controller into electric over hydraulic valves on qualifying tractors or external valve
- Associated cables to plug into users GPS
- Mounting hardware
- Rugged carrying case
Options
Hydraulic Valve
Add an external valve to tractors without electric over hydraulic control.
Joystick
The Multi-Function Joystick with an easy grip handle provides fingertip control for up to 3 valves with its reliable electric over hydraulic interface. Engage or disengage machine control function. Auto level scraper or blade when running optional cross slope control.
Preplan with Ag Data Mapping Solution
Create background images and guidance lines for SD Drain Ditch with an Ag Data Management Solution (ADMS) software package from GK Technology, Inc. ADMS is your complete mapping software, in a simple to use format. The Topography & Drainage module allows you create maps showing topography, flow accumulations, watersheds, hills, and depressions. The profile tool lets you preview how proposed ditches will drain. You can easily preplan where your ditches should be and export guidance lines and background images for use in SD Drain Ditch.
VD04 – Vehicle Dock
IP54 water & dust resistant, vibration resistant*, Shock resistant**, 9 to 32VDC input, 19VDC 1.57A output, .75mm / 100mm VESA bracket screw holes.
*MIL-STD-810G, Method 514.6 Category 4, Fig 514.6C-1
**MIL-STD-810G; Method 516.6, Procedure I, Functional Shock; Method 516.6, Procedure V, Crash hazard Shock
RDK-501 – Detachable Keyboard
Designed to meet IP54 specifications, RDK-501 is fully rugged and foldable as a notebook. With integrated backlighting that provides 4 levels of brightness, RDK-501 also comes with an integrated touchpad and supports keyboard layouts in different languages.
SD Drain® Ditch Features
Survey & Design
The first thing you do in the field is survey the ditch by driving the ditch path. As you survey, SD Drain Ditch will automatically capture elevation points to create a survey line. When the survey is completed, SD Drain Ditch will automatically generate a plan for the ditch. The default plan will consist of the ditch bottom (Grade Line), and several slices (Pass Lines). The Pass Lines correlate to an ideal cut depth for your scraper.
Cut
Choose from one of 3 ways to cut your ditch:
1. Design Cut
Automatically cuts top, unworked pass line. The distance between pass lines is a user defined parameter called Pass Depth. This setting can be modified to reflect your scraper’s ideal cut depth based on current field conditions.
2. Pass Cut
Automatically cuts to an operator selected pass line. Pass lines are numbered from the bottom up so the final grade line is always pass 1, then next line up is pass 2, and so on.
3. Single Cut
The pass lines are removed and SD Drain Ditch automatically cuts to a single, final grade line. The operator can adjust the cut depth by tapping the triangles on horizontal light bar to offset the grade line. The offset distance is shown in the upper left-hand corner of the screen, above the horizontal light bar.
1. Design Cut
Automatically cuts top, unworked pass line. The distance between pass lines is a user defined parameter called Pass Depth. This setting can be modified to reflect your scraper’s ideal cut depth based on current field conditions.
2. Pass Cut
Automatically cuts to an operator selected pass line. Pass lines are numbered from the bottom up so the final grade line is always pass 1, then next line up is pass 2, and so on.
3. Single Cut
The pass lines are removed and SD Drain Ditch automatically cuts to a single, final grade line. The operator can adjust the cut depth by tapping the triangles on horizontal light bar to offset the grade line. The offset distance is shown in the upper left-hand corner of the screen, above the horizontal light bar.
Edit Functions
Before you start cutting your ditch, you have the option to change how the final ditch design will look. You can modify the ditch design by changing the minimum or maximum slope values. You can also remove points in the survey pass. For example, if your ditch always washes out at the outlet, you can delete survey points to create a more gradual slope at the outlet of the ditch.
Backslope
The patented Automated Backslope Cutting Feature (U.S. Patent No. 9,885,169) will allow SD Drain to automatically cut the blackslope of your ditch. This allows the scraper blade to step up as it moves away from the center of the ditch. You can modify the parameters of the backslope to allow for a steep slope or a gradual slope.
Backslope
The patented Automated Backslope Cutting Feature (U.S. Patent No. 9,885,169) will allow SD Drain to automatically cut the blackslope of your ditch. This allows the scraper blade to step up as it moves away from the center of the ditch. You can modify the parameters of the backslope to allow for a steep slope or a gradual slope.
Surveyed Backslope
In addition to a static value for your backslope, you can let SD Drain create a dynamic solution. Survey the right or left-hand apex, or bank, of your ditch and SD Drain will use that information to automatically adjust the backslope value as you work that side of the ditch. After you survey the first apex, you immediately have several choices for the opposite side: you can mirror the apex survey you just completed, survey the opposite apex to create another dynamic solution, or input a static value.
Parabolic Ditches
When you create ditches in your field using SD Drain, the default design has a trapezoidal cross section with a flat bottom and angled, backsloped sides. Waterways naturally have a cross section that will look more like a parabola. SD Drain gives you the option to design and cut ditches with this more natural parabolic cross section.
Parabolic Ditches
When you create ditches in your field using SD Drain, the default design has a trapezoidal cross section with a flat bottom and angled, backsloped sides. Waterways naturally have a cross section that will look more like a parabola. SD Drain gives you the option to design and cut ditches with this more natural parabolic cross section.
Background Images
Georeferenced background images easily load into SD Drain. Such maps are useful to determine where your ditches will be placed and where you need to place the excess soil.
3D View
SD Drain Ditch will allow the user to see a 3D Topography background map, using processed topography data from ADMS. The 3D view gives users exaggerated views of the hills and troughs of the field making infield decisions much easier.
3D View
SD Drain Ditch will allow the user to see a 3D Topography background map, using processed topography data from ADMS. The 3D view gives users exaggerated views of the hills and troughs of the field making infield decisions much easier.
Window Button
Touch the window button to display the three viewing options. Touch any option to toggle the view on or off. You can slide the window button up or down to resize the Overhead window.
Manual Flagging
Need to drop a flag for any reason? SD Drain allows you to create custom flags you can drop while ditching. This feature makes it easy to mark common objects you don’t have time to immediately deal with, but you would like to find later. Examples include rocks or rogue equipment pieces such as a chisel plow shank.
Manual Flagging
Need to drop a flag for any reason? SD Drain allows you to create custom flags you can drop while ditching. This feature makes it easy to mark common objects you don’t have time to immediately deal with, but you would like to find later. Examples include rocks or rogue equipment pieces such as a chisel plow shank.
Benchmarks
Benchmarks are used to compensate for GPS drift. GPS drift can happen when you power down a portable RTK-GPS base station. Portable base stations often use a quick average to calculate their location and this quick average my not be the same from day to day. By driving to a certain known point with your scraper, and capturing a benchmark, you now have the ability to return to that same location and recall that known point, correcting for any GPS drift.
Simulated Laser
After you drive your survey pass, SD Drain Ditch can simulate a single slope laser to cut your ditch. You can also use the simulated laser to make a zero slope, or flat surface.
Simulated Laser
After you drive your survey pass, SD Drain Ditch can simulate a single slope laser to cut your ditch. You can also use the simulated laser to make a zero slope, or flat surface.
Hardware Features
Ruggon PX-501 Tablet PC
The Ruggon PX-501 Tablet has a sunlight readable, high resolution WUXGA (1920×1200) touchscreen display. The battery works as a UPS so no worries if you lose power because of a tractor stall. With the wireless DAC 8000 interface installed, the only thing you need to plug into the PX501B is the power cable. Comes with rugged carrying case and RAM mounting hardware.
System
- Intel® Core™ i5-5350U 1.8GHz
- 8GB DDR3L
- 128GB M.2 SSD
- Windows 10 IoT Enterprise
Durability
- IP65, MIL-STD-810G certified
- Vibration, shock and 5’ drop resistance
- Operating temperature: -4°F to +140°F
Display
- 10.1” 1920 x 1200 WUXGA
- 850 nits sunlight readable brightness
- 10-point capacitive touch supports glove touch, water rejection, palm rejection, 2mm hard tip stylus.
I/O Interface
- USB 3.0 type A x 1
- RS-232 x 1
- Micro SD slot x 1, Micro SIM slot x 1, Micro HDMI x 1
- Headphone x 1
Communication
- Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45)
- 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
- Bluetooth V4.0 + EDR
- GNSS (GPS/ GLONASS/ BeiDou)
Camera
- 2MP front
- 8MP auto focus rear camera with led flash
Power
- AC adapter (65W, 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz)
- 12VDC power cable
- 4500mAh hot swappable battery, approx. 6 hours battery life
Dimensions & Weight
- 11.03 x 7.68 x .91 in, 3lbs
DAC 8000
The DAC 8000 is a wireless multi-valve control module. Communication between the Ruggon PX-501 Tablet PC and the DAC 8000 is achieved via a custom dedicated wireless interface. On a standard ditching system, the DAC 8000 will pass RTK-GPS data to the control computer and then automatically control your blade depth via your tractor’s existing Selectable Control Valve (SCV). Supported SCV control for John Deere, CNH, and Challenger A & B series tractors.
No need to add another DAC 8000 if you want to add more control to your scraper or blade. The DAC 8000 has the power to control up to 3 valves of various types, simultaneously. It can also receive inputs from up to two slope sensors, as well as the RTK-GPS signal. It’s all the control you’ll need – in one unit.
SD Drain Ditch Key Benefits
- Pass depth setting divides large cuts into manageable slices.
- Tracks where scraper has worked and automatically steps down to next pass until final grade is reached.
- Calculates estimated volume of ditch.
- Save and recall ditches.
- Save and recall benchmarks.
- Scrape uphill or downhill.
- Side view generated as topography pass driven.
- Easily modify proposed design.
- Customize look of program.
- Backslope function automatically controls blade along user-defined slope that is perpendicular to ditch path eliminating ridges.