Friday, 30 September 2022 10:55

Autonomous spreader unveiled

Written by  Mark Daniel
Case IH's Trident 5550 applicator is understood to be the agricultural industry's first autonomous spreader. Case IH's Trident 5550 applicator is understood to be the agricultural industry's first autonomous spreader.

Case IH has partnered with Raven Industries to launch the Trident 5550 applicator, understood to be the agricultural industry’s first autonomous spreader.

Aimed at a market looking to solve the challenges of labour shortages and the need to improve efficiency, the Trident 5550 applicator combines proven Raven Autonomy driverless technology with an agronomically-designed spreading platform for a flexible autonomous solution. Raven uses its proprietary software to control guidance and steering, speed control and path planning.

In operation, likely using a mobile device, operators can plan and complete the spreading function based on mapped field boundaries. Using a series of advanced cameras and a radar system, the Raven Autonomy system constantly senses a 360-degree environment around the machine looking for obstacles and motion initiation while operating. A perception controller processes the continuous stream of images, which interprets and detects obstacles, with a link back to the remote operator to view the cameras at any time.

If an obstacle is detected, the machine will safely come to a stop and an alert will be sent to the operator’s mobile device. At this point, the operator can evaluate the situation and determine the next course of action.

Additionally, a range of machine tasks and functions can be viewed remotely. These include fuel and DEF levels, vehicle speed, hopper levels, Universal Terminal information and diagnostic fault codes.

This latest innovation follows on from the Case IH autonomous concept vehicle launched in 2016. It comes after research found autonomous spreading was an operation that customers would likely adopt.

The Case IH Trident 5550 allows for one or more driverless machines in the paddock without an operator present. However, it also provides the flexibility of full control inside should it be required.

By operating at a constant speed and with precision, the autonomous applicator should provide spreading consistency – with human error removed – and allow for repeatable performance with centimetre accuracy.

“This is a significant milestone in our accelerated product development efforts between Case IH and Raven,” says Scott Harris, Case IH global brand president. “It highlights our intense collaboration and robust product innovation following CNH Industrial’s acquisition of Raven in late 2021.”

More like this

Tractor to help budding farmers

Jeff Farm is a 2433ha property near Gore, owned and run by the Salvation Army since the early 1950s after it was gifted by farmer Edmund Jeff, with the stipulation it be "used to train young people with a passion for agriculture, who would not otherwise have such a career option" - for a career in the New Zealand agricultural industry.

A year of global challenges

As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.

BA Pumps expand

Cambridge based BA Pumps & Sprayers, specialists in New Zealand-made spraying equipment, has acquired Tokoroa Engineering’s product range, including the iconic Milk Bar mobile calf feeder products, alongside calf and feed trailers.

Entries open for innovation award

Fieldays and its renowned Innovation Awards are celebrating their 57th year, marking a longstanding tradition in the agricultural calendar, with the latter delivering a platform for problem-solvers to showcase their innovation to the primary industries.

Mounting kit helps with accurate metering, spreading

StocksAg has introduced a mounting kit to fit its Turbo Jet 8 or 10 units to pneumatic trailed SKY EasyDrills, allowing separate metering and accurate application of products like Avadex through an additional set of outlets behind the drill’s press wheel.

Featured

Massey Research Field Day attracts huge interest

More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.

Expo set to wow again

Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.

A year of global challenges

As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.

National

Winter grazing warning

Every time people from overseas see photographs of cows up to their hocks in mud it's bad for New Zealand.

ANZ defends farm lending rates

The country's largest lender to the agriculture sector says it's not favouring home loans over farm and business lending.

Machinery & Products

Expo set to wow again

Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo…

A year of global challenges

As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Review SOEs!

OPINION: NIWA has long weathered complaints about alleged stifling of competition in forecasting, and more recently, claims of lack of…

Bank reset

OPINION: Adding to calls to get banks to 'back off', NZ Agri Brokers director Andrew Laming has revealed that the…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter