Farms.com Home   Ag Industry News

Autonomous electric tractors a reality

Autonomous electric tractors a reality

Ztractor is developing autonomous electric agriculture machinery for farmers

By Ryan Ridley
Farms.com

What was once a distant dream, as described by Bakur Kvezereli with examples from the early 1900s, autonomous electric tractors are now becoming a reality for farmers across the globe.

Kvezereli is the founder and CEO of Ztractor, a developer of autonomous electric tractors (AETs).

His presentation titled ‘Automation and Electrification of Agriculture Machinery’ was delivered to attendees of the 2020 Farms.com Virtual Precision Agriculture Conference & Ag Technology Showcase.

“We [have created] three models. Right now, we have almost completed and commercialized the Bearcub-24 model which will be available for customers in 2021,” says Kvezereli.

The company has also begun prototyping two other models, the Mars-45 and the Superpilot-125, which they look forward to releasing to farmers in coming years.

“Bearcub-24 is perfect for berries, vegetables and grapes, while the Mars-45 focuses more on large scale vegetables like tomatoes, and the Superpilot-125 is mostly for grains and field crops, which we are seeing more interest in,” adds Kvezereli.

 

Ztractor's 3 autonomous electric tractor models: Bearcub-24, Mars-45, and Superpilot-125.

 

With 67 sensors, six cameras, and GPS RTK, the 100 percent electric Bearcub-24 model collects real-time ag data while operating in the field. Its IoT framework and machine learning algorithm interprets the data, which leads to higher efficiency and increased yield.

“[The Bearcub-24] scans everything on the farm – on the soil level, plant level and air level – and gives the operator or farm manager a better idea of what to expect on the farm, not only what is happening today and your challenges right now, but also into the future,” he explains.

Bearcub-24 comes equipped with a 3-point hitch, continuous track, adjustable chassis system and battery management system, travels up to 15 mph, and has a PTO that supports all category-1 implements.

To learn more about autonomous electric tractors and Ztractor, watch the below video with Kvezereli.

Photos: ztractor.com




Trending Video

SaskAgToday.com Roundtable: China hits Canada with canola seed tariffs

Video: SaskAgToday.com Roundtable: China hits Canada with canola seed tariffs

The big story this week was China placing a 75.8 per cent anti-dumping duty on Canadian canola seed imports.

While China claims the duty is temporary - pending the conclusion of its anti-dumping investigation into Canadian canola next month - many are calling on the federal government to take the lead and get the tariffs removed. The SaskAgToday.com Roundtable discusses what farm groups, and politicians, have been saying.

Also, the panel highlights a grand opening of Grain Millers flax processing facility, limited harvest progress in Saskatchewan due to widespread rain, and the Grain Growers of Canada on its second annual Summer Tour.