Deere & Co.

Deere’s fully autonomous tractor integrates the 8R tractor, TruSet-enabled chisel plow, GPS guidance system and cutting-edge technologies. Equipped with six pairs of stereo cameras, the autonomous tractor boasts 360-degree obstacle detection and distance calculation capabilities. Images captured by the cameras undergo rapid processing through a deep neural network, enabling pixel classification in just 100 milliseconds to determine the machine’s course of action based on obstacle detection. In addition, the autonomous tractor maintains continuous positional checks relative to a geofence, ensuring precise operation within an accuracy range of less than an inch. This groundbreaking development represents a significant leap in autonomous agricultural technology, promising enhanced efficiency and safety for farmers.

John Deere and Volocopter, a German aircraft manufacturer, have collaborated to develop a large spraying drone, the VoloDrone, featuring a 9.2-meter diameter and powered by 18 rotors with a fully electric drive and replaceable lithium-ion batteries. This drone offers a flight time of up to 30 minutes and can be operated remotely or automatically on a pre-programmed route. Equipped with a flexible standardized payload attachment system, the VoloDrone allows for the mounting of different devices based on the application, such as two liquid tanks, a pump and a spray bar for crop protection, enabling extensive area coverage of up to 6 hectares per hour due to its low flying height.

Autonomous drone sprayer is designed with a weed scanner and crop sprayer and enables aerial weed scanning and targeted control. Featuring a 10.6-liter tank, the drone undergoes automatic refilling at a field boundary station, where the battery also charges automatically. With a fully charged battery, the drone offers a 30-minute flight time. Notably, the key advantage of this drone lies in its precise pesticide application, leading to a significant reduction in pesticide usage. Additionally, the drone’s capability to spray from the air, regardless of ground conditions is claimed to enhance its versatility and effectiveness in agricultural operations.