• John Deere, a leading provider of farming equipment, unveiled a fully autonomous tractor during a press conference at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2022 held in  Las Vegas. The product is expected to be available in markets later this year and is ready for large-scale production.

• The autonomous tractor is an upgraded version of John Deere’s “8R” series row-crop tractor, integrating the company’s “TruSet” computer technology (that allows controlling tillage equipment) and GPS guidance system along with advanced technology features, such as 360-degree view stereo cameras. The tractor can detect obstacles, determine movements by processing live images within approximately 100 milliseconds and work while continuously checking its position, relative to a geo-fence.

• According to the company, farmers only need to transport the tractor and configure it to their parameters to start using it autonomously. Farmers can also control and monitor the tractor through John Deere’s Operation Center Mobile platform. The platform provides live video, images, metrics and notifies farmers of any problems with the tractor.

<ul><li> Analyst Quicktake: John Deere has been at the forefront of developing autonomous tractors, and has invested in the autonomous technology space by acquiring related companies. In 2017, the company acquired a robotics company, Blue River Technologies, intending to develop smart machines and increase automation in the farming process. Last year, John Deere also acquired Bear Flag Robotics , a US startup manufacturing command-controlled autonomous tractors, to grow further in the nascent agricultural-robotic space.</ul>