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Monarch Tractor introduces a tractor with an intelligent control system
The American company Monarch Tractor announced the launch of autonomous tractors that run on an electric motor. The equipment is equipped with a system based on the artificial intelligence of Jetson Edge generation from NVIDIA Corporation.
The MK-V tractors will be the first in the startup’s lineup. The developers claim that the equipment can perform work in the fields, both in autonomous mode and under the control of the driver. Thanks to an AI system from NVIDIA, all applications that provide the tractor’s functionality will work in real time. The delay is only a few seconds. When creating the model, engineers paid special attention to the battery. Even during full operation, the tractor can use the energy-saving mode, which significantly increases the period of operation without recharging and extends the life of the battery itself.
Monarch Tractor equipment is equipped with six Jetson Xavier NX system modules, which ensure the tractor’s movement in the field thanks to built-in cameras, but not GPS. The authors of the project explain this decision by the fact that often in the process of agricultural work in remote areas, the satellite signal can be lost or completely absent. At the same time, the cameras allow the equipment to receive information about the surroundings. For this purpose, the tractor has two 3D and six regular cameras.
The technology from Monarch Tractor collects and analyzes data about the process of crop ripening on a daily basis. There is also an option for the tractor to process information from attachments that have sensors and visualization devices. This data can be used as a means of making adjustments to equipment online, as well as for evaluating the quality of the crop in the fields, and its ratio to the characteristics of a particular stage of maturity. In addition, the information allows you to notice the first signs of plant disease and take timely measures to neutralize pathogens.
The MK-V Monarch prototype was first unveiled two years ago, and the startup partner was Constellation Brands, a leading producer of premium wines. The latter bought six tractors for its agricultural needs, with the aim of reducing diesel fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions. Monarch Tractor estimates that the use of one electric tractor can reduce emissions equal to those of 14 passenger cars. While the MK-V operates on an all-electric engine, which eliminates atmospheric pollution.
In addition, the technique solves a number of other problems faced by the agricultural industry. Thanks to the autonomous operation of vehicles, labor shortages can be bridged as well as increased safety in the fields.