Top 20 agricultural unmanned vehicles, with one Chinese company making the list. The future of agriculture depends on them!

Are we ready for driverless tractors or agricultural robot vehicles to enter agriculture? Actually, it depends on who you ask. If you asked the Dutch farmer, Cornelis Sijlin, this question in 1962, he would most likely say, "Driverless tractors will enter agriculture within a few years."

  早在 57 years ago, Cornelis Sijlin invented an agricultural tractor called "Agricultural Robot", which was the world's first fully automatic driverless plowing tractor, navigating by feeler wheels in the grooves. The birth of the "Agricultural Robot" was also due to the reduction of agricultural labor at that time.

 

 

By 1999, agricultural machinery giant John Deere also attempted to develop a driverless upgraded version of its 5310 model tractor for multi-row fruit tree pesticide spraying in orchards. 20 Years later today, John Deere will once again launch a driverless articulated electric tractor.

 

This article lists 20 driverless agricultural vehicles currently under development or about to be launched. These are some of the more well-known projects in the world, but are not limited to these. They are mostly concentrated on small and medium-sized driverless tractors, driverless agricultural machinery vehicles, swarm robots and plant protection robots.

 

Agrointelli (Denmark)

Product: Robotti, GrassBot2

Type: Driverless agricultural machinery vehicle

Introduction: In 2015, since its establishment, Agrointelli has sold at least 6台 Robotti robots, mostly to various research institutions, including Wageningen University. Robotti The robot is equipped with a diesel engine on each side, with a three-point linkage mounting system in the middle, which is sufficient to carry various agricultural tools up to 3 meters wide, including plowing, weeding, pesticide spraying, sowing, etc.

 

The new version, to be launched in 2020, is equipped with lidar for obstacle detection, with a starting price of 10 ten thousand euros.

 

 

 

Another robot, GrassBot2, is still under development and will be used for crop harvesting.

 

 

Amazone/Bosch (Germany)

Product: BoniRob

Type: Swarm robot

Introduction: In 2009, Amazone showed their jointly developed agricultural robot with Bosch and Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences. BoniRob The design concept is to form a swarm of robots by combining multiple robots to work together. BoniRob 的设计理念是通过联合多个机器人协同工作，形成机器人群。

 

Today, Amazone has BoniRob transferred its robotics department to Bosch, and Bosch's robotics department continues BoniRob the development of robots, but the launch date has not yet been announced.

 

 

Autonomous Tractor Corporation ( ATC ，USA)

Product: Spirit

Type: Driverless tractor

Introduction: Since 2013, ATC has been developing driverless robot tractors Spirit 。 Spirit It is a track-type agricultural vehicle without a cockpit, and because of its unique appearance, it is jokingly called a "substation on tracks". Although ATC the company is still researching driverless vehicle robots, it has been positioned for research purposes from the beginning of its development and will not be put on the market.

 

At the same time, Spirit can also tow other agricultural tools. Currently, ATC the company focuses on developing pure electric agricultural spraying self-propelled vehicles to reduce the cost and investment of agricultural machinery.

 

 

Avrora Robotics (Russia)

Product: Agrobot

Type: Driverless tractor

Introduction: Although the Russian agricultural machinery industry fell into a slump after the collapse of the Soviet Union, it may be late, but it will never be absent. In 2016 9 month, Russia's Avrora Robotics released Agrobot a video of a driverless tractor. Judging from its external dimensions and structure, Agrobot it is similar to the Dutch Greenbot driverless tractor, using a diesel engine and a three-point linkage structure.

 

 

According to reports from British agricultural machinery magazines, from now to 2021, there are approximately 10台 Agrobot driverless tractors used in Russia for planting, sowing, plant protection and transportation, covering a total farmland area of 500 hectares.

 

 

Case Case IH (USA)

Product: Magnum

Type: Driverless tractor

Introduction: At an agricultural exhibition in 2016, the driverless tractor developed by the agricultural machinery brand Case Magnum made its debut. Magnum This was completed in collaboration with Case agricultural machinery and an autonomous driving technology company ASI This was a collaborative effort.

The Magnum integrates all autonomous driving technology components, enabling fully autonomous driving and operation. Case's sister brand, New Holland, is also launching Magnum conventional tractors that share similar technologies, T8 Genesis PLM In Case's view, autonomous driving technology presents more opportunities than obstacles at the legislative level, a perspective slightly different from other companies in the industry.

 

 

Carré (France)

Product: Anatis

Type: Plant protection robot

Introduction: At In 2015, France SIMA At the agricultural exhibition, the French agricultural machinery manufacturer Carré launched a generation of Anatis plant protection robots. 4 A year later, at this year's SIMA agricultural exhibition, the upgraded new Anatis Co-bot plant protection robot made its debut.

 

 

The new Anatis Co-bot robot will be on the market soon, perhaps next year. Carré It is a hoeing agricultural machinery manufacturer, so Anatis Co-bot the robot will mainly be used for hoeing and weeding tasks in open fields and greenhouse fields. This plant protection robot is battery-powered and can operate continuously for 8 hours. The price has not yet been announced.

 

 

Continental Group Continental AG (Germany)

Product: Unknown

Type: Driverless agricultural machinery vehicle

Introduction: Continental Group is also known as “Continental Germany”, is a transportation industry manufacturer. Main products include tires, braking systems, vehicle stability control systems, engine injection systems, tachometers, and other automotive and transportation parts.

 

Continental Group began vigorously developing robot platforms a year ago. At the beginning of this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas ( CES), Continental Group showcased its own agricultural robot concept. As planned, they will 11 in mid-month, which is now at the Agritechica agricultural exhibition in Hanover, Germany, exhibit a fully autonomous, battery-powered, modular vehicle platform. Almost all parts of this robot platform come from Continental Group's own products, including lidar.

Dot Technology (Canada)

Product: Dot

Type: Driverless agricultural machinery vehicle

Introduction: The development of the Dot autonomous agricultural vehicle began in 2014 year. This vehicle robot uses a U type architecture, which can be linked to other agricultural tools, including 9 meter-wide seeding equipment, 36 meter-wide pesticide sprayers, fertilizer spreaders, grain hoppers, etc.

It is claimed that The Dot autonomous agricultural vehicle can carry more than 100 types of agricultural tools and machinery. 2018 In the year, the company produced 6 units, while this year's plan is 20 units. By 2021 year, we will see its three-meter-wide European version specifically designed for the European market. Currently, Dot the price of the autonomous agricultural vehicle is 25 to 30 ten thousand US dollars.

 

Escort Group Escorts Limited (India)

Product: FarmTrac

Type: Driverless tractor

Introduction: Escorts Group is an Indian engineering company whose business mainly focuses on agricultural machinery, construction and material handling equipment, and railway equipment. In 2018 9 month, Escorts Group officially unveiled its autonomous tractor, FarmTrac version. It is estimated that the prototype has only 75 horsepower. Escorts Group stated that this autonomous tractor was jointly developed by Escorts Group, Microsoft, Trimble Navigation, Wabco, and Bosch. More product details and launch time information have not yet been disclosed.

 

AGCO Agco/Fendt (USA / Germany)

Product: Xaver

Type: Swarm robot

Introduction: Fendt is a German agricultural tractor and machinery manufacturer that produces and sells a full range of tractors, combines, and balers. It was founded by Xaver Fendt in 1930 year and acquired by AGCO in 1997 year. Xaver The group of robots began three years ago with the "Mobile Agricultural Robot Group" research project, jointly led by Fendt and Ulm University.

 

 

The so-called “Mobile Agricultural Robot Group” refers to a group of robots transported by a trailer to the farmland, forming an autonomous working group. They are designed to plant corn, but they can also handle most farm work except harvesting. 6 to 12台 Xaver group of robots to the farmland, and can form an unmanned, automatically working group of robots. Their design purpose is to plant corn, but they can also handle most farm work, except for harvesting.

 

Fendt's investment in the research and development of small robots is driven by their belief that large agricultural machinery, such as tractors, have reached their limits and bottlenecks, and that miniaturization can significantly reduce environmental impact. It is expected that within the next three to five years, Xaver swarms of robots will be ready for practical application.

 

AGCO Agco/Fendt (USA / Germany)

Product: 200 VF Vario

Type: Driverless tractor

Introduction: In addition to the R&D of the Xaver small robot, Fendt it will also be 2019 revealed at the Hannover Agricultural Show, equipped with a laser-guided automatic driving system 200 VF Vario model tractor, and equipped with a Braun intermediate shaft frame, a double-sided vertical lift, and various tools. The new design aims to make it easier to operate different agricultural machinery.

The laser-guided automatic driving system consists of a laser, gyroscope, control unit, and computer terminal. Except when turning at headlands, where driver intervention is required, it can achieve autonomous driving in other situations.

 

Greenbot (Netherlands)

Product: CR18

Type: Driverless tractor

Introduction: Starting in Greenbot 2014, it was once affiliated with a Dutch manufacturer of amphibious vehicles, mowing boats, and other water maintenance equipment, Conver BV Greenbot . Now,

 

it is independent, and the paint color has changed from the previous orange-red to the current green. This robot has the same technology as continuously variable transmission tractors. Currently, the diesel-powered 12 CR18 unmanned tractor is priced at 5 ten thousand 4 euros, and has sold

 

 

units.

Product: Guss Automation (USA)

Guss

Introduction: Type: Unmanned Sprayer 2007 Guss is an unmanned spraying system. The concept originated in 2015 year, but a prototype did not appear until Guss Automation (USA) year. After three years of testing, 28 CR18 unmanned tractor is priced at 5 the unmanned sprayer was launched in the United States at a price of

 

thousand US dollars, and plans to launch in Australia next year, gradually expanding into the global market.

 

Current and future R&D will include unmanned sprayers designed specifically for vineyards and unmanned tractors customized for orchards, responsible for orchard weeding, land preparation, and harvesting.

John Deere (USA)

Type: Driverless tractor

Product: Unnamed Introduction: In the agricultural machinery industry, the name John Deere is as prominent as a main course at a banquet. To date, John Deere has launched two unmanned tractor concept prototypes, but has not yet officially named the product. It is the electric unmanned tractor project released at the end of 2018 GridCON

 

 

which is unique in that it is powered by a trailing cable. The cable does not tangle thanks to a reel. One was 680 shown at a dealer exhibition in Spain in October, a fully electric articulated unmanned tractor with a power output of

 

horsepower. The tractor has an articulated steering system, and the disc harrow is directly bolted to the tractor.

Product: Kubota (Japan) M7 L series and

Type: Driverless tractor

series Introduction: Kubota 60台 In 2017, Kubota showcased their unmanned tractor, jointly developed with Tokyo Optical Machinery and Kansas State University. Last year in Japan, Kubota sold a total of L

series unmanned tractors. Japanese law already permits the use of unmanned agricultural machinery and vehicles. Kubota (Japan) M7 L series and

 

Kubota

 

 

Kubota's unmanned technology has already been applied to rice planters, and unmanned rice harvesters will also be launched soon. Kubota believes that Europe will lag behind other regions in the promotion of unmanned machinery and vehicles, mainly due to legislative factors.

Product: Naïo Technologies (France) Oz, Dino and

Type: Plant protection robot

Introduction: Ted 2011 Naïo Technologies was founded in year, and its robots include Oz 100台 year, and its robots include a small weeding robot. This year, the company shipped a total of robots. Naïo

 

Technologies Another plant protection robot year, and its robots include Dino, is much larger than 3 has been on the market for Oz, years or so.

 

The robot is mainly used in large vegetable farms for plant protection and weeding. The

 

 

Ted weeding robot, designed specifically for vineyards, has also entered the industry's field of vision, and its launch is imminent.

Product: New Holland (USA) T8

Type: Driverless tractor

T4.110F and Driverless tractors were introduced in 2016 T8 model; subsequently, driverless tractors were quickly introduced T4.110F This machine is currently undergoing testing at a California winery Gallo undergoing testing.

New Holland's autonomous driving system is similar to that of Case's driverless tractors. New Holland The T8 Genesis PLM is already equipped with such a system, enabling it to operate driverlessly.

 

SwarmFarm Robotics (Australia)

Product: SwarmBot 5

Type: Spraying robot swarm /Robot tractor

Introduction: This Australian company was founded by a farmer in 2012, and collaborated with the University of Sydney and the University of Queensland to develop spraying robots. To date, they have produced 12台4 generation of robots, but they have all been retired. The 5 generation of spraying robots has produced 4 units, and it is expected that 20 more units will be produced. These spraying robots are mainly supplied to the Australian market through leasing, at an annual cost of 69,600 Australian dollars for a period of 3 years. In addition, they are all equipped with WEED-IT spraying technology.

 

Yanmar (Japan)

Product: YT4884A, 498A, 4104A, 5113A

Type: Driverless tractor

Introduction: Yanmar Group has been collaborating with Hokkaido University for several years to develop driverless tractors, and has also developed technology for collaborative operations of driverless tractor groups. In October 2018, Yanmar's driverless tractors were officially launched, divided into automatic driving and driverless types. The price of driverless tractors is between 93500 Euros and 119500 Euros. Like Kubota, Yanmar's driverless technology is also used in its own rice planters.

 

Yanmar YT5113A driverless tractor

 

 

China First Tractor Works (China)

Product: Dongfanghong LF1104S-C

Type: Driverless tractor

Introduction: In mid-2018, China First Tractor Works unveiled its Dongfanghong LF1104S-C driverless tractor. It features automatic path planning and navigation within a designated area, automatic reversing, automatic braking, remote start, remote shutdown, automatic rear power output, automatic engine speed control, automatic implement control, active obstacle avoidance, and remote control, with a mileage error of no more than 3 centimeters.

 

In addition to China First Tractor Works, China's Lovol and Zoomlion are also developing driverless tractors, but have not yet disclosed launch dates and prices.

Zoomlion

 

When asked when traditional tractor manufacturers will see large driverless tractors or agricultural vehicle robots in the fields, they all said that it will take about ten years. This long time is not due to technical reasons.

 

In fact, many driverless technologies, such as GPS, autonomous driving, lidar, automatic steering, etc., have been implemented and matured for many years. These technologies are already assisting drivers. However, due to legislative and other considerations, as well as the current cost of technology, the development and mass production of driverless agricultural vehicles have been delayed.

Lidar application in driverless vehicles

 

Agricultural machinery researcher, Mikkel ·Klara said, "The scale and development level of the automotive industry far exceeds that of the agricultural machinery industry. Once driverless cars become popular, the agricultural machinery industry will surely follow suit, probably in the next 10 years. Technically, although driverless agricultural vehicles can be realized tomorrow, it is still impossible to circumvent the problems of relevant legislation and customer interest."

 

Despite this, whether agricultural machinery manufacturers admit it or not, they are all developing driverless tractors or vehicle robots, overtly or covertly. Japan is particularly noteworthy, where driverless agricultural machinery and vehicles are already legally permitted. Driverless agricultural vehicles are equipped with cameras and anti-collision systems that can detect children or pedestrians obscured by tall crops. This addresses a common concern about the driverless concept.

Miniaturization is a future trend for agricultural vehicles, and it has many advantages, such as suitability for operation in special environments such as orchards and vineyards. Currently, many startups without agricultural experience are thinking outside the box and developing small agricultural robots for activities such as sowing, fertilization, plant protection, crop inspection, and weeding. Sometimes, they are also used for individual crops.

 

At the same time, the industry believes that large tractors still have 10 to 20 years of use and survival space, and will continue to provide traction in crop cultivation and harvesting.

 

According to 2018 Global Market Insights report, by 2024 year, the demand for driverless agricultural vehicles will exceed 300 ten thousand units, creating 1800 billion US dollars in global market value.