The Agricultural Technology Report

Automation and robotics are enabling farmers to improve efficiencies, reduce costs, and meet the growing demand for food. The benefits go beyond reducing the need for manual labor and human-operated equipment. Automation and robotics are also helping with environmental stewardship by reducing the application of crop inputs like water, fertilizers, and weed-killers.Precision agriculture, a farm management practice that’s based on observing, measuring, and responding to variables such as soil moisture or pH levels, uses automation and robotics in the form of autonomous agricultural vehicles (AAVs), robots, and uncrewed aerial systems (UASs). In turn, these larger systems need various components and subsystems.Autonomous Agricultural VehiclesAutonomous agricultural vehicles (AAVs) are designed to reduce or eliminate the need for direct, continuous human involvement in tasks such as plowing, planting, watering, and harvesting. Instead of driving vehicles for long hours, agricultural workers can perform other, less tedious tasks. AAVs include both semi-autonomous and fully autonomous tractors. Under the Bonnet, or Hood, of Autonomous TractorsSemi-Autonomous TractorsSemi-autonomous tractors are partially-automated AAVs that require some human intervention or supervision, such as for navigating complex field layouts or addressing varying crop conditions. They are suitable for tasks that require a high degree of precision, such as planting or spraying, but that do not need full automation. Often, these vehicles include features such as automated steering and guidance. Leading OEMs include John Deere, whose self-driving tractor can plow and plant autonomously, and CNH Industrial N.V., whose brands include Case IH and New Holland Agriculture.In semi-autonomous tractors, safety features such as emergency stop buttons and manual override capabilities allow a human operator to take control if necessary. This operational flexibility supports readily-available switching between ma