At the 2016 Farm Progress Show, Case IH Corporation of Racine, Wisconsin, has unveiled a driver-less tractor.
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The Case IH tractor has no seat or steering wheel.
The concept tractors are configured as two distinct versions. Autonomous mode is then engaged when compatible tasks are performed. Aside from the driverless technology they use a conventional engine, transmission, chassis and implement couplings. It’s only a concept vehicle at this point, it is not for sale, nor has the company even named a price on this tractor.
Farmers could operate one tractor or a number of tractors depending on need.
Teaming up with Utah-based Autonomous Solutions Incorporated (ASI), Case’s working concept allows remote monitoring of pre-programmed operations. Manual path plotting can also be carried out for refueling or when custom paths are required.
Case IH says that the remote operator can supervise and adjust pathways via a desktop computer or tablet.
“An autonomous tractor like this could seamlessly integrate into an existing farm machinery fleet, with minimal operational changes”, Bose said. “We really want to get some feedback from our customers here at the Farm Progress Show this week”. The route to the field can also be planned, should this involve negotiable private roads or tracks.
Through the use of radar, LiDAR (light imaging, detection, and ranging) and onboard video cameras, the vehicle can sense stationary or moving obstacles in its path and will stop on its own until the operator, notified by audio and visual alerts, assigns a new path. From his desktop or tablet, the farmer can give instructions on where to go around the farm. Any critical machine alarms or loss of critical machine control functions cause the autonomous vehicle to stop automatically for safety reasons, while a stop button on the control interface can be activated manually for the same goal. The operator can let the tractor know how to proceed remotely. Its screen also allowing machine and implement settings to be altered remotely. The machine can operate day or night and is created to plant seeds and harvest crops, among other tasks.
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Able to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the NHDrive tractor helps to reduce the risks associated with human error as it follows predetermined and optimised plans for all activities. For example the tractor would stop automatically should it become apparent changeable weather would cause a problem, then recommence work when conditions would have sufficiently improved.
