Not automatic excavator machine control
DIG™ gives RTK bucket-to-grade guidance — the operator still runs the machine. It does not drive excavator hydraulics.
For implements, choose the Automation Kit (drives the existing hydraulics on grade) or the Guidance Kit (on-screen on-grade feedback, operator works the hydraulics). For excavators, the DIG™ Excavator Guidance Kit. Same app DNA across all three — pick by the machine you're putting on grade, or buy both sides and run them at the same time off one RTK base.
![]() For implements
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![]() For excavators
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| For what machine | Any tractor-pulled implement — pull-type scrapers, ditchers, tile plows, trenchers, land levelers, motor graders, Pulldozer™ | Any excavator or backhoe — full-size, mini, long-reach, wheeled, skid-steer backhoe attachments |
| How it works | Automation Kit: drives the existing raise/lower hydraulics on the implement so the blade tracks grade automatically. Guidance Kit: control module & harness only — operator watches on-screen on-grade feedback and works the raise/lower hydraulics manually. | Stick + bucket inclination sensors track the cutting edge in real time. Operator works the bucket manually with on-screen + audible on-grade guidance |
| Workflow modes | Ditching · Terracing · Land Forming · Simple Grading · Tiling · Leveling | Excavator — plus Simple Grading and Leveling shortcuts for quick jobs |
| Slope-IQ™ design engines | ✓ Best-Fit · Guided · Freeform — in every surface-grading mode | ✓ Best-Fit · Guided · Freeform in the Ditch Assist app |
| Auto-Nudge™ pass scheduling | ✓ Set max cut in supported grading modes; Ditch Assist stages each pass to target depth. Leveling uses manual Nudge, and Levee is guidance-only. | — (single-pass dig; depth committed when the bucket hits target grade) |
| LiDAR Drainage Mapping | ✓ On-demand LiDAR flow + depression layers — unlocked in the app when you connect to the Ditch Assist module | ✓ Same — unlocked in the app when you connect to the DIG™ module |
| Universal file import | ✓ AGD · OptiSurface™ · Ezigrade™ · Topcon™ AGForm-3D™ · XYZ/XYZP · LandXML · with surveyed benchmarks | ✓ Same set in the Ditch Assist app |
| Where you run the screen | Ditch Assist Android app on any recent 10″+ Android tablet (Samsung recommended). Recommended tablets supplied with the system; larger-screen options available. | Ditch Assist Android app for field operation. DIG™ setup screen for measurements, calibration, and saved machine profiles. |
| Sensor IP rating | Control module — IP67 | Stick + bucket (or dogbone) sensors — IP67 |
| Implement-to-cab link | Wireless — no harness through the cab | Wireless — no harness through the cab |
| RTK GPS compatibility | Any NMEA-compliant brand. Affordable Emlid bundles available. | Any NMEA-compliant brand. Affordable Emlid bundles available. |
| Auto-Hold on RTK loss | ✓ Stops sending blade commands, notifies operator | ✓ Notifies operator |
| Languages | EN · ES · PT-BR — full UI and operator manual | EN · ES · PT-BR in the Ditch Assist app |
| Install time | ~1 hour or less on most equipment | ~1 hour to install sensors and calibrate once the GPS mount and sensor brackets are in place. Initial bracket and GPS-mount install takes longer. |
| Move between machines | ~20-minute swap | Save up to 10 calibrated machine profiles; swap between machines that have sensor brackets pre-installed |
| Run alongside the other kit | ✓ Both kits can run at the same time, sharing one RTK base station | ✓ Both kits can run at the same time, sharing one RTK base station |
| Subscription | — None. One-time purchase. No per-machine activation. | — None. One-time purchase. No per-machine activation. |
| See the kits → Get a quote | See the kit → Get a quote |
Many farms and contractors run both. Because they're separate hardware, both kits can run on different machines at the same time — sharing one RTK base station.
Match your equipment to a kit, then open the mode page for job-specific detail.
| Equipment | Recommended kit | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Pull-type scraper or hydraulic blade | Automation Kit or Guidance Kit | Ditching → |
| Land leveler or Pulldozer™ | Automation Kit or Guidance Kit | Leveling → |
| Tile plow or trencher with hydraulic raise/lower | Automation Kit or Guidance Kit | Tiling → |
| Tile plow with a factory PWM valve, such as Soil-Max Stealth ZD™ | Guidance Kit | Tiling → |
| Motor grader or land-forming implement running 3D designs | Automation Kit or Guidance Kit | Land Forming → |
| Excavator or backhoe, any size | DIG™ Excavator Guidance Kit | Excavator → |
All eight modes run on the same app. Pick the job, see the kit, open the mode.
| Job | Recommended kit | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Surface ditches and field drainage | Automation Kit or Guidance Kit | Ditching → |
| Terraces — channel and berm | Automation Kit or Guidance Kit | Terracing → |
| 3D land-forming designs — AGD, LandXML, XYZP | Automation Kit or Guidance Kit | Land Forming → |
| Quick single-slope grading — lanes, approaches, pads | Automation Kit or Guidance Kit | Simple Grading → |
| Sub-surface tile drainage | Automation Kit or Guidance Kit | Tiling → |
| Flat pads — grain bins, shops, yards | Automation Kit or Guidance Kit | Leveling → |
| Levee and contour guidance, steer-only | Guidance Kit | Levee & Contour → |
| Excavator or backhoe trenching, culverts, ditch cleanup | DIG™ Kit | Excavator → |
Knowing what a system doesn't do is as useful as knowing what it does.
DIG™ gives RTK bucket-to-grade guidance — the operator still runs the machine. It does not drive excavator hydraulics.
Every kit works with any NMEA-compliant RTK GPS source. Emlid Reach RS3/RS4 bundles are available, but nothing about Ditch Assist requires them.
Every workflow mode included with a kit ships in the kit you buy. There is no added fee to unlock Ditching, Terracing, Land Forming, Simple Grading, Tiling, or Leveling.
If you're comparing Ditch Assist with tile and surface drainage systems such as Intellislope, WM-Drain, or SD Drain Tile, focus on the workflow difference: Ditch Assist runs one Android app with every mode included, while the correct hardware choice depends on whether your machine needs hydraulic automation, operator guidance, or excavator bucket guidance.
If you're comparing DIG™ with full civil machine-control platforms such as Trimble Earthworks, Leica iCON, Topcon 3D-MC, or MOBA Xsite, the honest comparison is product class: DIG is RTK bucket-to-grade guidance built for Ditch Assist workflows on excavators and backhoes, not a claim-for-claim replacement for a full civil machine-control system.
Evaluate Ditch Assist by the same practical requirements: which kit fits the machine, whether you need automation or guidance only, and whether one app across every drainage mode is worth it for your operation.
Click through a live browser build of the Ditch Assist app — real screens, real workflows, no login and no hardware required.
Yes. The implement kits and DIG both work with any NMEA-compliant RTK GPS source. Affordable Emlid Reach RS3/RS4 bundles are available if you are starting from scratch.
The Automation Kit drives the raise/lower hydraulics automatically. The Guidance Kit and DIG show on-screen (and for DIG, audible) on-grade feedback while the operator runs the machine manually.
The Guidance Kit. A factory PWM valve, such as the one on a Soil-Max Stealth ZD™, is driven directly, so the Automation Kit plumbing package is not needed.
Yes. The implement kits include Ditching, Terracing, Land Forming, Simple Grading, Tiling, and Leveling. DIG includes Excavator mode plus Simple Grading and Leveling shortcuts. No mode is sold separately.
No. Every kit is a one-time purchase with no subscription and no per-machine activation fee.
Yes. Emlid Reach RS4 and RS3 bundles are available for customers who do not already have RTK, alongside support for any other NMEA-compliant RTK brand.
Focus on the workflow difference: Ditch Assist runs one Android app with every mode included, while the correct hardware choice depends on whether your machine needs hydraulic automation, operator guidance, or excavator bucket guidance.
DIG™ is RTK bucket-to-grade guidance built for Ditch Assist workflows on excavators and backhoes. It is a simpler, lower-cost product class, not a claim-for-claim replacement for a full civil machine-control platform. Against lower-cost 3D guidance kits such as the FJD Trion G31, compare the software: DIG runs the complete Ditch Assist app on your own Android tablet and shares one app and one RTK source with the implement kits.