CNH Industrial revealed its last innovations in autonomous tractors at The Farm Progress Show 2016.

Better use of labor, integration into current machinery fleets, plus the flexibility to work unmanned around the clock with real time data monitoring, were some of the design criteria of the autonomous tractor technology developed by CNH Industrial is presenting for a not so distant future world’s agriculture.

At key times of the year farm work demands long hours in the field, like when planting or harvesting a crop. To make the most of these windows CNH Industrial has developed autonomous tractors for its Case IH and New Holland Agriculture brands, to offer farmers and agribusinesses sustainably boost production and productivity at these times.   

The technology within

Precision farming and machine automation are already taking on ever-greater importance, therefore, auto-steering, telematics and autonomous technology are incorporated on the existing Case IH Magnum and New Holland T8 conventional tractors, and using GPS in conjunction with the most accurate satellite correction signals for ultra-precise guidance and immediate recording and transmission of field data, the autonomous tractor concept has been designed to allow complete remote deployment, monitoring and control of the machines.

Both are equipped with radar, LiDAR (range finding lasers) and video cameras to ensure obstacles or obstructions in the tractor’s path or that of the implement are detected and avoided. The cameras can also provide a live feed to the operator, this ensures the safety of anybody or anything which comes within proximity of the machine.

Should an object be detected in the tractor’s path, visual and audio warnings will appear on the control interface, which offers a range of choices of how the tractor should respond: like coming to a total stop waiting for human intervention, driving around the obstacle using an automatically plotted path or, in the event that it is something like a straw pile or tree branch, just driving onwards.

The CASE IH Magnum is cabinless, an autonomous concept tractor, totally independent.  On the other hand , the New Holland T8 NHDrive concept tractor maintains its cab to offer operating flexibility, with traditional human operation for road transport and when performing tasks currently unsuited to automation. Autonomous mode is then engaged when compatible tasks are performed.

In either format, the machines can be integrated into existing fleets, says CNHI, and aside from the driverless technology, they use a conventional engine, transmission, chassis and implement couplings.

This year’s Farm Progress Show proved that the trend in machinery automation is gaining momentum, and what we saw as children in Sci-Fi movies is becoming a reality.

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