Case IH has revealed a driverless concept vehicle which can operate autonomously with a wide range of field implements.
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The Case IH driverless tractor turned heads at a US farm equipment show. |
Shown at the recent Farm Progress Show in Iowa, US, the as yet unnamed cab-less row-crop tractor is designed to solve what Case IH brand president Andreas Klauser says is a shortage of experienced tractor drivers.
“While we offer auto-steering and telematics on our current range of tractors, this autonomous tractor concept demonstrates how our customers and their employees can remotely monitor and control machines directly,” Klauser says.
“It is very exciting for us to explore the possibilities that this technology can provide.
“We look forward to the feedback regarding this concept and exploring how this can help farmers and contractors to achieve a new level of efficiency.”
Case IH based the cab-less autonomous concept on an existing Case IH Magnum tractor and reimagined the styling.
Its onboard computer system automatically accounts for implement widths and plots the most efficient paths depending on the terrain, obstructions and other machines in use in the same field.
The remote operator can supervise and adjust pathways via a desktop computer or portable tablet.
The tractor 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.
Machine tasks can also be modified in real time with via remote interface or automatic weather warnings.
CNH Industrial collaborated with its long-standing technology provider Autonomous Solutions Incorporated (ASI) in the development of this tractor.
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