Animated map display method for computer-controlled agricultural product application equipment

A method for displaying information in a computer-controlled system for distributing a product onto a field using a vehicle driven by an operator, the distribution of said product being controlled at least in part by an map corresponding to regions of said field to receive varying densities of said product, said map being maintained in a processor and containing information relating to an agronomic plan, said field defining a real-world terrain having features, said operator having a field of view through a viewing surface encompassing at least a portion of said real-world terrain which changes over time as said vehicle traverses said field, said method comprising the steps of:

• identifying a location and an orientation of the vehicle within the field at a given time;
• determining from said location and said orientation the features of the terrain within the field of view of the operator at said given time by reference to the map;
• generating an image containing the information to be displayed to the operator;
• and
• presenting said image so that it is visible within the field of view of the operator such that the operator views the information corresponding to the real-world terrain encompassed by the field of view of the operator, said image being displayed on the viewing surface using a heads-up type display such that at least a portion of said image is visually overlaid onto the real world terrain encompassed by the field of view of the operator,
• whereby the operator simultaneously views the real-world terrain and the information and selectively compares the information being projected with the features of the real-world terrain of the field.