Fluid Power World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Hydraulics
      • Cylinders & Actuators
      • Filtration/Contamination Control
      • Fittings, Couplings & Adapters
      • Fluids
      • Fluid Conditioning
      • Hose & Tubing
      • Pumps & Motors
      • Related Technologies
      • Sealing
      • Sensors & Gauges
      • Valves & Manifolds
    • Pneumatics
      • Air Preparation & Regulation
      • Compressed Air Technologies
      • Cylinders & Actuators
      • End Effectors & Grippers
      • Fittings, Couplings & Adapters
      • Hose & Tubing
      • Sensors
      • Vacuum
      • Valves & Manifolds
  • Engineering Basics
  • Trending
  • Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • Distributor Search
    • Engineering Week
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • White Papers
  • Leadership
    • 2020 Leadership in Fluid Power Winners
    • 2021 Leadership in Engineering Winners
  • Women in Engineering
    • Women in Fluid Power
    • Women in Engineering
  • Design Guides
    • Design Guide Library
    • Electro-Pneumatic Regulators
    • Hydraulic Cylinders
    • Hydraulic Filtration
    • Hydraulic Hose Assembly
    • Hydraulic Pumps
    • Hydraulic Valves
    • Pneumatic Actuators
  • Events
    • Engineering Week
    • Fluid Power Tech Conference

John Deere and the autonomous future

By Paul Heney | January 12, 2022

Share

At last week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, John Deere put on an impressive hybrid press conference to announce its fully autonomous tractor. This isn’t some concept machine or a test vehicle. We’ve seen plenty of those over the years from OEMs; this is one that’s ready for large-scale production. The machine combines Deere’s 8R Tractor, TruSet-enabled chisel plow, GPS guidance system, and new advanced technologies. The autonomous tractor will be available to farmers later this year.

Presenters focused on the fact that farming is exhausting mentally and physically — and this advance will allow farmers to focus on other things while allowing for better outputs from the farm. Plus, there’s a gap between the labor that is needed on the farm and the labor that is available. What’s more, farmers need lots of labor for short periods of time … autonomy will help, because a tractor can be out 24 hours a day and run constantly when soil conditions are just right. For example, with seeding, if the optimal planting window is missed, the crop output can go down by as much as 1% with each passing day.

Overall, three main benefits were discussed. First, there’s timeliness. Autonomous vehicles don’t call in sick or get tired and can run 24 hours per day. Second, is efficiency. This technology allows farmers to be more efficient because they’re not in the cab all day. They can focus on the whole operation. And third, is about quality of life. The company says it will be improved, as being in a cab up to 18 hours a day is physically and mentally exhausting.

What’s clear is that this technology is making great strides and will be part of all our worlds in the coming years. Fluid power will continue to be used for key actuation operations on these types of vehicles — but now’s the time to start asking ourselves how our technology will have to adapt. The greater availability of inexpensive sensors means that components and systems can be connected to the IoT, and functional improvements like predictive maintenance will become expected and not extras. Fluid power can still be a mainstay here, but it’s clear that we must keep innovating, every bit as fast as the other parts of the vehicles our systems are on.

 

 

Other articles for you:

Mobile IoT system harnesses machine and fleet data Purdue researchers raise tractor efficiency Why hydraulic efficiency is becoming critical New cartridge flow transmitter revolutionizes hydraulic flow monitoring

Filed Under: Mobile Hydraulic Tips, Trending

 

About The Author

Paul Heney

Fluid Power World 2021 Handbook

Fluid Power World Digital Editions

Fluid Power World Digital EditionBrowse the most current issue of Fluid Power World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Bookmark, share and interact with the leading fluid power magazine today.

Get Fluid Power News Direct

Fluid Power News

RSS Featured White Papers

  • High-force linear motion: How to convert from hydraulic cylinders to electric actuators and why.
  • A technical comparison: Performance of pneumatic cylinders and electric rod actuators
  • Quick Connect Couplings: A Critical Component in Hydraulic Systems

Fluid Power Podcast

Women in Fluid Power: Donna Pollander, Executive Director of the IFPS
See More >

Follow us on Twitter!

Tweets by @wtwh_paulheney
Tweets by @FPW_MaryGannon
Fluid Power World
  • Hose Assembly Tips
  • Mobile Hydraulic Tips
  • Pneumatic Tips
  • Sealing & Contamination Control Tips
  • Advertise
  • About us
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Fluid Power World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Hydraulics
      • Cylinders & Actuators
      • Filtration/Contamination Control
      • Fittings, Couplings & Adapters
      • Fluids
      • Fluid Conditioning
      • Hose & Tubing
      • Pumps & Motors
      • Related Technologies
      • Sealing
      • Sensors & Gauges
      • Valves & Manifolds
    • Pneumatics
      • Air Preparation & Regulation
      • Compressed Air Technologies
      • Cylinders & Actuators
      • End Effectors & Grippers
      • Fittings, Couplings & Adapters
      • Hose & Tubing
      • Sensors
      • Vacuum
      • Valves & Manifolds
  • Engineering Basics
  • Trending
  • Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • Distributor Search
    • Engineering Week
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • White Papers
  • Leadership
    • 2020 Leadership in Fluid Power Winners
    • 2021 Leadership in Engineering Winners
  • Women in Engineering
    • Women in Fluid Power
    • Women in Engineering
  • Design Guides
    • Design Guide Library
    • Electro-Pneumatic Regulators
    • Hydraulic Cylinders
    • Hydraulic Filtration
    • Hydraulic Hose Assembly
    • Hydraulic Pumps
    • Hydraulic Valves
    • Pneumatic Actuators
  • Events
    • Engineering Week
    • Fluid Power Tech Conference