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Apex.AI, a developer of safety-certified
software for mobility and autonomous
applications, announced on June 9,
2022, that partner AGCO is adding new
capabilities to its autonomous farming
robot, the Fendt Xaver concept vehicle,
by incorporating the easy-to-use Apex.OS
software development kit.
AGCO, headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, USA, is a
global manufacturer and distributor of ag machinery
and precision agriculture tech.
Apex.AI has enabled AGCO’s engineering team to
integrate several autonomous driving components
into the Fendt Xaver, such as lidar object detection,
collision checking and planning, all using the state-of-
the-art framework and developer tools within the
Apex.OS.
This technical partnership expands upon an existing
relationship between the two companies when AGCO
announced a strategic investment in Apex.AI, a Palo
Alto-based company, in December of 2021.
“Apex.OS is a foundational software framework and
development kit for rapidly developing advanced
autonomous capabilities,” stated
Christian Kelber
, the
director of engineering with AGCO. “The technology
has helped AGCO shorten R&D timelines of our smart
agricultural solutions and for the future of highly
automated robots. Coming from the automotive
industry, Apex.AI enables us to implement safety-
critical applications from autonomous driving that can
be deployed across our range of solutions globally.”
The autonomous robot concept was developed by
Fendt as part of a research project. It is capable
of planting seeds on a farm 24 hours a day with
centimetre precision thanks to the Apex.OS software.
Featuring a lightweight electric design that produces
zero emissions, the Fendt Xaver uses 90 percent less
energy than conventional machines.
AGCO has leveraged Apex.OS in order to develop a
software stack for Xaver based on automotive industry
standards, extending its real-time autonomous
functions.
AGCO
PARTNERS WITH
APEX.AI
FOR ROBOTIC PLANTING
New Apex.OS software from Apex.AI being used by partner
AGCO to drive new precision ag technology solution
ANDREW JOSEPH
FARMS.COM
PHOTO: fendt.com