Case IH will be showcasing its autonomous tractor at this month’s AgQuip field days.
The company made headlines around the globe last year when it unveiled its Autonomous Concept Vehicle, a cabless tractor that operates without a driver and was initially created to demonstrate the current technologies available.
Now Australians will finally be able to see the tractor set to revolutionise farming as it makes its Down Under debut at AgQuip in Gunnedah, NSW, from August 22-24.
The ACV’s on-board system automatically compensates for implement widths and can plot its paths depending on terrain, obstructions and other machines in the vicinity.
“The ACV is a glimpse into the future for agriculture and proof of the impact technology is having on our industry,” Case IH Australia New Zealand marketing manager Pete McCann says.
“No one could have imagined a driverless tractor 10 years ago, but the ACV shows us that one day they could be a reality.
“It’s the perfect example of the possibilities before us and the fact the next big revolution in agriculture could be just around the corner.”
“To be able to bring the ACV to Australia and show it to AgQuip visitors is very exciting for all of the Case IH team,” McCann adds.
Advanced Farming Systems (AFS) global product manager Rob Zemenchik says autonomous tractor operations have the potential to offer farmers more control, monitoring capabilities and cost savings with tasks like tillage, planting, spraying and harvesting.
“An operator could potentially supervise the activities of multiple machines via a tablet or desktop computer while completing other tasks and a number of autonomous tractors could work together on the one task or on multiple tasks simultaneously,” he says.
The ACV will be on display for the full three days of AgQuip, with Case IH offering visitors the chance to get up close and personal with the ACV and learn about its capabilities from Case IH representatives from the US.