John Deere unveils two new self-driving agricultural machines
USA – John Deere is introducing two autonomous farming machines, the Autonomous 9RX Tractor and the Autonomous 5ML Orchard Tractor, designed to assist in large-scale farming and orchard operations.
The company showcased both machines at CES 2025, which is taking place in Las Vegas as part of efforts to address skilled labor shortages in the agricultural sector.
John Deere’s chief technology officer, Jahmy Hindman, says that customers in agriculture, construction, and commercial landscaping face challenges in completing time-sensitive tasks due to a lack of skilled workers.
He explains that autonomous technology can help bridge this gap, allowing machines to operate independently in complex environments and perform tasks safely without direct human intervention.
Hindman adds that these advancements are meant to support customers who play a crucial role in providing essential goods and services, including food production, fuel supply, infrastructure development, and landscape maintenance.
The latest developments build on John Deere’s first-generation autonomous technology introduced at CES 2022, incorporating artificial intelligence, computer vision, and camera systems to enhance navigation and operational capabilities.
The Autonomous 9RX Tractor is equipped with 16 cameras arranged in multiple pods, providing a 360-degree field of vision to monitor surroundings and navigate fields while performing tasks without human supervision.
John Deere states that the updated autonomy system improves depth perception at greater distances, enabling the tractor to tow larger equipment and operate at higher speeds.
The Autonomous 5ML Orchard Tractor features additional Lidar sensors to handle the unique challenges posed by orchard environments, such as navigating through dense tree canopies.
The company confirms that the initial release of the 5ML model will be powered by a diesel engine, with a battery-electric version comparable in size and performance to the existing diesel-powered 5M and 5ML models expected to follow.
Both machines are integrated with John Deere Operations Center Mobile, a cloud-based management platform that allows users to monitor live video feeds, review images and data, and adjust settings such as speed remotely.
Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
