Autonomy is Here: Introducing the Driverless 8R Series Tractor

The future of farming is now here. On January 4th 2022, John Deere premiered it's fully autonomous 8R Series Row Crop Tractor (click here to watch press conference). This fully autonomous machine provides a driverless experience.

The autonomous tractor is equipped with six stereo cameras that allow for 360-degree object identification and distance computation. Images taken by the cameras are sent into a deep neural network, which assesses each pixel in around 100 milliseconds and decides whether the machine should continue to drive or stop based on whether an obstruction is spotted. The autonomous tractor also checks its location in relation to a geofence on a regular basis to ensure it is working where it is intended to be and to within an inch of precision. 

Farmers simply need to take the autonomous tractor to a field and set it for autonomous operation to utilize it. They may start the equipment by swiping from left to right on the John Deere Operations Center Mobile app. The farmer may leave the field to focus on other duties while monitoring the equipment's status from their mobile device while the machine is functioning. The John Deere Operations Center Mobile app gives farmers access to real-time video, photos, statistics, and analytics, as well as the ability to alter speed, depth, and other parameters. Farmers will be alerted remotely if there are any work quality difficulties or machine health issues, and they will be able to make modifications to maximize the equipment's operation.

To learn more about the new autonomous 8R Series Tractor and availability, contact your Podolinsky Equipment Sales Representative today.