Kubota, a major farm equipment manufacturer based in Japan, will be working with U.S. chipmaker Nvidia to continue its development of self-driving tractors, according to an Oct. 7 report in Nikkei Asia.
Continued adoption and integration of new technologies to improve crop yields and meet the soaring demand for food are expected to be key influencers for growth in the agriculture market, according to a new study, Vertical Market Outlook Series: Agriculture Equipment released by the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation.
In the run-up to the 2019 Agritechnica show, held in Hanover, Germany, on Nov. 10-15, numerous products were presented by manufacturers and registered in competition for the Agritechnica Innovation Awards, including advancements in engine emissions, powershift gearboxes and digitization.
The demonstration in the Sri Racha District of Chonburi, southeast of the capital of Bangkok, served to draw attention to the labor-saving potential of autonomous technologies in agriculture.
Sabatanto, an Ames, Iowa custom autonomous farming company has announced a “stretch goal” to plant 10,000 acres of soybeans in 2019 using “supervised” autonomous tractors, according to a March 6 report in the Duluth News Tribune.
Technology is now evolving toward full autonomy. Master-and-slave (or follow-me) systems are being tested, enabling one driver to guide a fleet, thus boosting the driver’s productivity. Next will come manned yet fully autonomous tractors.
Three of the largest Japanese farm machinery manufacturers are expected to “launch full-fledged sales of self-driving tractors, possibly in fiscal 2018, which starts April 1,” according to July 21, 2017 report in The Japan Times.
The rollout of their autonomous tractors at the 2016 Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa, garnered Case IH and New Holland a lot of attention for several weeks. (See Ag Equipment Intelligence, September 2016.)
Fully autonomous vehicles in agriculture are likely still several years away, but there also may be a simpler, more efficient pathway to extending the life of farm machinery, while also improving performance.
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There was plenty of technology on display at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis., a few weeks ago. Farm Equipment editor Mike Lessiter caught up with Monarch Tractor’s John Issacson and got his take on the top 5 applications in autonomy right now.