Friday, 02 July 2021 11:55

Robo planter expected soon

Written by  Mark Daniel
Horsch says it is at an advanced stage with developing an autonomous planter and will release more details soon. Horsch says it is at an advanced stage with developing an autonomous planter and will release more details soon.

German farm machinery manufacturer Horsch says it is at an advanced stage with developing its aptly named Robo autonomous planter and will release more details soon.

The new technology was spotted recently on social media, with a video showing one of the company's large red planters being towed to a field by a truck, then being put through its paces drilling corn. The development has been confirmed by chief executive Phillip Horsch with the Robo planter undergloing real planting trials.

"The Robo works well, planting autonomously and making turns unaided on the headland etc," he explained.

Horsch also noted that because safety regulations in Germany are so strict for fully autonomous vehicles that a supervisor/operator has to stay within 600 metres and always be watching the machine.

He confirmed that two more autonomous "concepts" would follow the Robo planter by the end of the year. The autonomous machine is likely to be released in about two years, subject to ongoing efforts to relax the current stringent regulations. The company also manufactures trailed and self-propelled sprayers and is said to be keen to develop robotic versions of these machines as well.

Horsch says the autonomous planter was likely to be released for sale in about two years, depending on efforts to change current regulations.

Running on a twin-track system, the Horsch Robo is equipped with a Trimble navigation system and fitted with a large seed hopper that supplies the 24-row Maestro seeding element.

More like this

Featured

National

Machinery & Products

Calf feeding boost

Advantage Plastics says it is revolutionising calf meal storage and handling, making farm life easier, safer, and more efficient this…

JD's precision essentials

Farmers across New Zealand are renowned for their productivity and efficiency, always wanting to do more with less, while getting…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Overbearing?

OPINION: Dust ups between rural media and PR types aren't unheard of but also aren't common, given part of the…

Foot-in-mouth

OPINION: The Hound hears from his canine pals in Southland that an individual's derogatory remarks on social media have left…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter