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John Deere recently launched its JD 8R fully autonomous tractor at a trade show in Las Vegas.
Although this month's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas is usually associated with the "geek brigade", global manufacturer John Deere chose it to launch new technology aimed at farmers and growers.
This event saw the release of the JD 8R fully autonomous tractor. The company points out that this is not a concept vehicle, but a fully commercial offering that will be available to North American customers later in the year.
While details are still a little scarce, it seems that a driver is still required to move the tractor to the paddock, but once there, it can be switched to autonomous mode - using JD's Operations Centre App via a mobile phone or smart device.
The tractor is currently limited to operations with a cultivator, but Rural News understands that there more implements suitable for autonomous operation in the wings. Once positioned in the paddock, the tractor checks its position relative to a Geofence - with a 2.5cm positional accuracy.
The system features 360-degree obstacle detection and distance calculations using six pairs of stereo cameras, which deliver a feed to an integral processor. This classifies individual pixels every 100 milliseconds to determine whether the tractor should continue to move or come to a stop if an obstacle is detected. If the tractor is 'unsure', it will come to a stop then contact the 'driver' via the mobile app for advice and instructions.
From the user's point of view, the tractor can be monitored remotely - with access to a live video feed, images, data and Infometrics. Meanwhile, parameters like working speed and implement operating depth easily adjusted on the move.
Key factors such as worked completed, work remaining and current fuel levels are also readily available.
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With the biannual Italian EIMA machinery Expo less than a month away, Case IH has taken out a Technical Evolution award for the Advanced Vehicle Suspension system available on its Optum 360–440 series tractors.
The Advanced Vehicle Suspension system, available on Optum 360, 390, and 440 models, responds to changing conditions, automatically adjusting how the suspension reacts to absorbs shocks and controlling vehicle movement.
In operation, sensors monitor the vibrations transmitted from the tractor chassis to the operator cabin, allowing the system to adjust suspension damping in real time. The control system incorporates key priorities, such as comfort at lower speeds and stability as speed increases, while also reacting to factors such as lower tyre pressures, where the tyres absorb more of the initial shock.
Case IH said as suspension requirements change throughout the working day, as tractors move between the paddock and road transport, the system manages suspension response in the background as tasks, speeds and conditions change, leaving the operator without the need to make manual adjustments.
Richard Hollins, Optum series tractors global product manager, said: “Pioneering technology must earn its place in the working day. Farmers and contractors will judge an investment by what it delivers, including manageable ownership costs, dependable up-time and the versatility to tackle different jobs. With AVS, we are putting intelligent control to work for comfort and stability, without giving the operator another setting to manage.”
Organised by FederUnacoma, the Italian Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Federation, the contest has been part of EIMA since 1986, with the Technical Evolution distinction awarded to products that introduce original improvements to solutions already manufactured or patented.
www.caseih.com
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