Farmers Be Ready for the Rise of 'Autonomous Tractors'

Tractors that drive themselves

Autonomous tractors are driverless tractors that use cutting-edge technology to maximize efficiency while minimizing human intervention. Autonomous vehicles are being heralded as the next big thing in farm equipment. They provide numerous advantages such as safety, fuel efficiency, sharing, and many others. The concept of self-driving tractors is intended to revolutionize the agricultural industry.

The most advantageous aspect of the autonomous tractor would be increased machine productivity. Getting more done in less time and fuel. The initial cost would be higher than for diesel models, but the long-term profitability of an autonomous tractor would be unparalleled.

The Evolution of Self-Driving Tractors

Autonomous tractors are no longer just a concept, as companies such as Autonomous Tractor Corporation and John Deere have been developing and improving their products successfully over time.

Autonomous Tractor Corporation was one of the first companies to attempt to develop an autonomous tractor, which was successful by 2012. SPIRIT is the name of their first model, which is designed to accompany the main tractor. The company is also working on developing a model that can move independently of a lead tractor.

Companies such as Fendt and Case IH are also working on their line of self-driving tractors.

Key Players in the Market 

India, as one of the largest markets for agricultural products and machinery, has shown interest in self-driving tractors. Market leaders such as Mahindra & Mahindra, John Deere, and Escorts have begun to develop and launch self-driving tractors.

John Deere is a pioneer in the field of self-driving tractors, having launched its project in 2008. Their vehicle's unique feature is that it receives instructions from the GPS and completes its tasks without the need for human intervention.

Read more: Autonomous Tractor Market - Growth, Impact of Covid-19, Trends, and Forecasts of 2022 - 2027

Mahindra and Mahindra-

The Company recently launched its first line of driverless tractors, which are guided by a GPS and can also be guided by handheld devices such as a tablet or a phone.

Escorts

Escorts are receiving support from Microsoft and is developing their driverless tractor using modern technology tools such as AI and IoT.

Case IH 

This company has a large market in the Western Hemisphere and has made significant progress in developing an autonomous tractor platform to initiate discussions with farmers to make them understand their benefits of them.

New Holland 

 Self-driving tractor - CNH Industrial, which also owns Case IH, is the parent company. Despite the name, the company is headquartered in Italy. The company is working on developing self-driving tractors to assist vineyard farmers.

Hulk

The first-of-its-kind electric tractor was developed by AutoNXT, a startup. It would be driverless thanks to built-in software and support from mounted cameras.

Driverless tractors are still a long way from becoming commonplace. Many issues concerning safety, legal challenges, and the business case must still be addressed. Technology has been available for a long time and is improving by the day.

Read more: Autonomous tractor technology - a solution for farmers.