KUHN introduces KARL autonomous farming workhorse

Known for its farming implements, French company, KUHN, is branching out into the autonomous solutions space by unveiling its robotic farm vehicle concept, which it has named KARL.

KARL officially made its debut at the Agritechnica 2023 trade show in November this year and was a result of over six years of development. It basically functions like a tractor but is unmanned and cabless, and can even make decisions and resolve issues on the go, KUHN said.

To get KARL going, all the operator has to do is determine the boundaries of the field KARL will be working in, set a task, put KARL in the field, adjust the work parameters and the robot will take over from there.

When required, KARL can also adjust certain parameters to carry out its task to adapt to the conditions at hand, such as different soil conditions or vegetation. KUHN added the robot is even capable of detecting certain issues on its own and has been able to implement corrective actions in order to continue carrying out its work effectively.

With a power output of 175hp, KARL can work with a wide range of implements for various field work. In a larger operation, having multiple KARLs in the field will increase productivity tenfold and the machines are all easily controllable via a mobile application, KUHN said.

While powerful, KARL has a relatively small footprint which minimises compaction on soil.

While KUHN has successfully put KARL through several tests in the field, more particularly with power harrows doing cultivation work, the company said the opportunities are endless with the robot as the company continues to develop it.

With labour issues seemingly more prevalent than ever on farms, KARL will certainly be a game-changer if and when it gets up and running in the future.