New Holland debuts driverless tractor

While looking like a normal tractor at first glance, New Holland's T8 Blue Power NHDrive tractor is anything but.

Unveiled at the Farm Progress Show in Iowa (USA) recently, the vehicle is the New Holland's first autonomous concept tractor that is capable of operating entirely on its own or with a driver in the cab to execute more complicated tasks.

The machine is developed by New Holland parent company CNH Industrial, which also developed Case IH's cabless, driverless concept tractor launched at the same event.

For both projects, CNH Industrial sought the help of its long-standing technology provider, Utah-based Autonomous Solutions Incorporated (ASI).

In autonomous mode, the NHDrive concept tractor can be monitored and controlled via a desktop computer or portable tablet interface.

A path-plotting screen shows the tractor’s progress, while another screen shows a live camera feed, providing the user with up to four real time views (two front and two rear).

A further screen enables monitoring and modification of key machine and implement parameters such as engine speed, fuel levels and implement settings, including seeding rate or coulter downforce.

The NHDrive tractor is able to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week which according to New Holland helps reduce the risks associated with human error as it follows predetermined and optimised plans for all activities.

New Holland says the NHDrive tractor will be able to completely automate grain handling in the future, where it will unload, transport and offload grains with the help of a trailer.

It is equipped with a cab that is completely identical to that of a standard New Holland T8 tractor, so it can also be manually operated for jobs in which complete autonomy is not yet possible, such as front end loader work and high speed road transport.

The NHDrive tractor can travel on pre-mapped private paths. Simply instruct the machine on where to go and what it has to do once it has reached its destination via private tracks, and the tractor will get to work, either individually or in a convoy.

The concept vehicle utilises New Holland's precision farming technology - PLM (Precision Land Management) to generate optimised in-field paths for it to follow.

The maps are created based on the size and shape of the field, any pre-existing obstacles and the width of the implement to be used.

The NHDrive tractor is able to work alongside other autonomous vehicles or machines driven by an operator.

A combination of radar, LiDAR (range finding lasers) and RGB camera technology allows the NHDrive tractor to detect in-field obstacles. If an obstacle is detected, the tractor sends a message to the interactive interface and the person responsible for the farming operations will decide if and how the tractor can avoid or bypass the obstacle.

New Holland says it is possible for its entire tractor range as well as other agricultural equipment to be equipped with the NHDrive technology in the future. The company adds it is also possible that the cab will be completely removed in future autonomous tractors.

"The NHDrive autonomous tractor offers us the opportunity to open up completely new horizons for future farming," says New Holland Agriculture Brand President Carlo Lambro.

"Farming will become increasingly responsible for ensuring the availability of food produced in an efficient and sustainable way. An autonomous tractor that is able to work day and night, helps solve the problem of a lack of specialised labour during the most intense seasons, makes 100 per cent use of the periods of favourable weather for various farming activities and maximises the rational use of resources."

New Holland says the unveiling of the concept tractor marks the 10th anniversary of the company's Clean Energy Leader strategy targeted at reducing the environmental impact of farming activities.

"The NHDrive concept autonomous tractor represents the first and very important step towards a new model of responsible farming management on a global level," says Lambro.

"At New Holland Agriculture, we have made farming innovation our main goal for more than 120 years and are proud to be an active and driving force in this important change."