Near Intersection of I-35 & I-90 Southern Mn. | Possibly I can offer some "Insight" into this confusing situation. I personally have a John Deere 8120 with Autopilot and the Insight display.
In my setup (there are many possible combinations), I use a Trimble 332 GPS which is connected to the Trimble Autopilot Nav 2 Controller which communicates with the Ag Leader Insight display.
The GPS information is fed to the Autopilot controller. The Autopilot controller is what controls the hydraulic steering valves. The Autopilot controller communicates back and forth with the Insight display.
Because of this connection my Insight no longer receives GPS directly as it had done before but indirectly through the Autopilot controller. The Insight display is used as the input device to the Autopilot and is how I set the AB line and other various settings. The Insight is also an output device as it displays my current status, desired line etc.
As I mentioned this is my setup. I "grew" into this arrangement since I already had the Insight display which I use in the combine and several tractors. This allows the Insight to be used in a multitude of ways.
For example, in the 8120 while planting corn, the Insight is working with the Autopilot to steer the tractor. At the same time, it is logging/mapping my corn varieties and also monitoring/logging/ mapping my starter fertilizer.
In the sprayer tractor (which doesn't have Autopilot), the Insight is controlling my Direct Chemical injection pump as well as monitoring the Raven running the carrier.
But back to more of your original question. The Autopilot controller would not have to use the Insight display as I do. There are many other choices. The EZ-Guide display or the Trimble 170 Field computer are a couple of choices which have been around for a bit.
More recently, Trimble has introduced their Field Manager Display. The Trimble Field Manager Display appears to be an Insight with different programming. Its main pupose in life is to work with the Autopilot controller. It offers more elaborate features and views in working with the Autopilot controller.
So are the Insight display and the Field Manager display one and the same? Well, Yes and No. I believe they are physically the same but have different operating programs. Either can work with the Autopilot controller but each has different features.
For one thing the Field Manager display does not have the ability to behave as a Yield monitor in a combine. I feel that Ag Leader will hold on to this share of that market.
I know that the Insight does work with several different modules to work with a variety of application situations such as direct control of liquid sprayers, dry rigs, communication with other controllers such as Raven etc. The Field Manager Display can work with the EZ-Boom system but I don't believe it can work with the other Ag Leader modules for Seed Command or Dry applications. Possibly it will in the future. The Field Manager has the ability to set some of the parameters for the Autopilot. With the Insight it is necessary to use a laptop.
If this isn't confusing enough, the Insight style display can be ordered with New Leader Dry boxes. In that situation the display has yet different programming which is optomized for their equipment. That version cannot do Yield monitoring either. I don't know if the New Leader version can work with Autopilot or not. My guess is probably not.
So which is right for you - it all depends on your situation and future plans. Dealer support and experience are also important considerations.
As far as who made what, I'm not sure. The Autopilot Nav controller box seems to be all Trimble. The Insight style displays were first seen from Ag Leader. The software programming would seem to be a cooperative effort. Apparently Ag Leader and Trimble have made alliances to work together on various projects rather than reinventing the wheel.
Edited by tedbear 12/24/2006 16:14
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Could somebody explain the AgLeader Insight/ Trimble Autopilot combination?
