Bobcat debuts autonomous electric tractor

Heavy machinery manufacturer, Doosan Bobcat, claims its latest innovation, the AT450X, is the industry’s first electric, autonomous articulating tractor.

The machine was the result of a collaboration between Bobcat and Agtonomy, a Silicon Valley-based, ag tech software company to develop autonomous equipment innovations that increase productivity and performance in the agriculture industry.

“Our mission at Bobcat is to empower people to accomplish more. Through strategic partnerships with companies like Agtonomy, we are committed to advancing our worksite solutions to help solve our customers’ toughest challenges,” said Doosan Bobcat CEO and vice chairman,  Scott Park.

“By combining our proven equipment with the latest technologies, we are reinventing how work gets done.”?

The battery-powered AT450X combines Bobcat’s articulating tractor with Agtonomy’s software and embedded-computing technology to support emissions-free and autonomous operation, thus allowing farmers to automate labor- and time-intensive tasks.??

The AT450X is designed to autonomously or remotely carry out farm tasks in compact applications, such as vineyards and orchards. Farmers can remotely direct the tractor to execute a wide range of jobs including mowing, spraying, precision weeding, product and material transport and other labor-intensive activities.?

The machine leverages AI to constantly ‘learn’ and dynamically react to its environment. For example, through vision-based systems, it can detect known and unknown objects to auto-stop operation if needed. It can also detect crop stems from weeds, for more precise spraying applications and reduced chemical usage.???

The AT450X is also capable of 24/7 operation and can swap batteries when it needs to replenish its energy source. It does so by returning to its home base when its battery is low, switching to a fully charged battery and placing its drained battery back to its charging station.?

Because it produces zero emissions, the tractor can also be operated in food storage facilities and other enclosed farm structures. It can also lower operating and maintenance costs for owners, Bobcat said.

“By digitally transforming the equipment farmers know and trust, we can help them combat the daily challenges they face, such as labor constraints and the ever-increasing demand for sustainable farming practices in specialty crops,” said Agtonomy CEO and co-founder, Tim Bucher.

“The Bobcat AT450X with Agtonomy’s TeleFarmer™ technology makes the perfect end-to-end solution for agriculture and other industries allowing both companies to make a positive impact and that is what it is all about.”?

To operate, users plot the machine’s mission path via Agtonomy’s mobile application. This allows the end user to easily plan, execute and monitor jobs running on an unlimited number of connected machines simultaneously.?

The AT450X can also navigate slopes with attachments following the ground contour for professional results in one pass. Operators can control the machine to operate autonomously, via advanced remote control or manually, across various terrains.??

“With our company’s beginnings in agriculture, we have a strong connection to the land and an appreciation for the farmers who work long hours in a wide variety of conditions to feed the world,” said Doosan Bobcat vice president of global innovation, Joel Honeyman.

“As we innovate for the worksites of tomorrow, solutions like the AT450X will help make farming more sustainable and efficient through digital advancements.”??

The partnership between Bobcat and Agtonomy goes beyond the AT450X, as both companies are currently working together to create more innovative ways to increase productivity and performance across a range of Bobcat equipment and markets. ??