By Katie Davis
That’s what the concept autonomous tractor technology developed by CNH Industrial looks to be the Uber of farming following its public preview at the 2016 Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa, USA. As they gave us a look into the future of farming offering a more efficient use of labor and easy integration of new technology into current machinery fleets but more importantly the flexibility to work unmanned around the clock with real time data monitoring along with the ability to automatically respond to weather events which could change the future world agriculture.
Precision farming and machine automation are already taking on ever-greater importance, in order to meet the need for more efficient, economic and sustainable agriculture. However, at key times of the year farm work still demands long hours in the field especially this time of the year when farmers are harvesting their crop or in the spring when they are getting ready and plant their next one.
CNH Industrial’s Innovation Group, which is the R&D division for the Case IH and New Holland Agriculture brand, has proactively developed concept autonomous technology to meet this challenge and help farmers and agribusinesses sustainably boost production and productivity at these times, through the ability to make the most of ideal soil and weather conditions.
This development would take the technology of auto-steering and telematics that are already available on today’s tractors but add autonomous technology which would take it the next level. By using the latest in GPS technologies along with the most accurate satellite correction signals for ultra-precise guidance plus the ability to immediate record and transmit field data, the CNH Industrial autonomous tractor concept has been designed to allow completely remote deployment, monitoring and control of the machines by farmers.
This new technology offers the potential to completely remove the operator from the cab as seen in the very impressive Case IH Magnum concept tractor or as seen with New Holland’s T8 NHDrive? concept tractor which maintains its cab to deliver operating flexibility, with traditional operation for road transport or for other farming use which is not suited for automation. In either format, the concept machines can be seamlessly integrated into existing fleets and aside from the driverless technology they use a conventional engine, transmission, chassis and implement couplings.
CNH Industrial’s new offers a fully interactive interface that has been developed to control the autonomous tractors, while at the same time providing immediate and secure feedback, recording and transfer of operational data.
The process of operating either tractor begins with inputting grid boundaries or field maps into the system and then using the integrated path planning software to plot the most efficient field paths for machines. Once path plotting has finished, the user can choose a job from a pre-programmed menu simply by selecting the vehicle, choosing the field and then setting the tractor out on its task, the whole sequence taking little more than 30 seconds from either a standard desktop computer, laptop or a portable tablet interface. This allows the users to access the data, whether it is from the comfort of their house, in their truck or working the in the barn, they will have the full control of data to make real time adjustments to enhance operational efficiency and productivity of their farm.
This system automatically accounts for implement widths, and also plots the most efficient paths when working with multiple machines, including those operating with different implement widths and with varying operating requirements. Manual path plotting can also be carried out for refueling or when custom paths are required.
It must be said that autonomous technology is most suited for farming jobs which require minimal complex operator intervention, such as; cultivation, planting, spraying and mowing.
While the concept Case IH Magnum and New Holland T8 NHDrive? autonomous models are using conceptual CNH Industrial technology, they address relevant real world situations. Autonomous tractor operation is suited both to owner-operator situations, where it could allow a person working with no employees to operate two tractors, or to the very largest businesses where finding suitable skilled labor is becoming increasingly more challenging as is the current case for most farmers.
These autonomous technologies have been designed so that, in the future, they could be further developed to enable their application across the full range of equipment in a modern farmer’s fleet. This could encompass the full range of tractors, harvesting equipment and support vehicles, such as sprayers.
CNH Industrial has worked with its long-standing technology provider Autonomous Solutions Incorporated, ASI, a Utah-based company that is the industry leader in off-road autonomous solutions, in order to develop and refine this concept autonomous technology. An intensive testing program was undertaken to ensure both the concept tractors themselves and the critical tractor/planter interface are fully functional and intuitive to operate.
CNH Industrial’s concept autonomous tractor technology holds significant promise and the demand for food grows for a sustainable and productive future of farming to meet these demands.