Mahindra & Mahindra today displayed its first ever Driverless Tractor. Developed at the Mahindra Research Valley, the Group’s hub of innovation and technology located in Chennai, the driverless tractor is all set to redefine the mechanization process for the global farmer.
This technology will be deployed across Mahindra tractor platforms in due course of time. It will also be deployed across international markets such as USA and Japan, giving Mahindra tractors a distinct competitive edge in global markets with technological advancement being at the forefront. Mahindra plans to offer the driverless tractor technology across its range of tractors from 20 HP to 100 HP over a period of time.
Features of the Driverless Tractor
The pioneering driverless tractor is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and boasts of several unique features:
Auto steer – GPS based technology that enables a tractor to travel along a straight line.
Auto-headland turn – Enables the tractor to orient itself along adjacent rows for continuous operation without any steering input from the farmer.
Auto-implement lift – Feature in the tractor that automatically lifts the work tool from the ground at the end of a row and lowers the tool after the tractor has oriented itself for operation at the next row.
Skip passing – This technology feature enables the tractor to steer to the next row for continuous operation without any intervention of the driver.
Safety Features
In addition, the driverless tractor is also equipped with some unique safety features as below:
Geofence lock – Prevents tractor from going outside the boundaries of the farm
Control via Tablet User Interface – Enables the farmer to program various inputs needed to farm efficiently. Also offers controls to prevent the tractor veering off from its intended path or desired operation. He can also control the tractor remotely via a tablet.
Remote Engine Start Stop – Ability to stop the engine and hence, bring the tractor to a complete STOP if needed in cases of emergency.
Also: checkout this concept video (not from Mahindra).
