My Lines are Not Straight: How Do I Handle Satellite Issues?

When the robots are driving near trees or buildings, the signal from the satellites can be disturbed. The signal can either be blocked by the tree or building (loss of signal) or it can be reflected by the tree or building (known as multi-path).

In both scenarios, the robot can have difficulty in determining its exact position, which might result in lines that are not straight.

What can I do to minimize satellite issues?

The robots are equipped with software designed to minimize the impact of such satellite issues. We call this feature the Tree Filter due to its ability to filter out noise caused by trees and buildings.

You should activate this software feature when the robot is painting areas on your field where trees or buildings cause satellite issues.

The effect of trees and buildings naturally depends on the specific location where the robot is painting. This means that you should test the software on the specific area where you are experiencing satellite issues to achieve the best results.

Enabling tree filter

In the TinyLineMarker app, go to Settings > Robot settings > Tree filter and select the preferred type (v1 classic or v2 improved). The two versions of the tree filter function differently, and there may be specific locations where one version works better than the other. Therefore, the best results are achieved by trying both filters on a stretch of the field where the robot experience satellite issues, and choosing the one that delivers the best results.

The tree filter can be applied to an entire field or to specific lines. To control which lines should be painted using the tree filter:

1. 1. Select the field where you experience satellite issues.
   2. Press Modify - Edit - Advanced.
   3. To activate the tree filter on a specific line, tap the line in question until it is orange.
   4. To quickly activate tree filter on an entire field, press Enable tree filter on all lines.

Other options for better results

All GPS receivers can experience difficulties in determining their exact position, if parts of the horizon are blocked. Therefore, there is a risk that the tree filter may not resolve all satellite issues in areas close to trees or tall buildings.

If you still experience problems with the tree filter, consider:

1. 1. Moving your track slightly away from trees or buildings.
   2. Allowing the robot to operate at a slower spray speed (See here for how to adjust the robot's Spray speed).
   3. Felling or trimming tall trees in close proximity to your field.