Agriculture is the only industry that impacts each of the world's 7.7 billion people on a daily basis. The world's dependence on food and agricultural production has never diminished.
At the same time, new and innovative methods and machinery have changed the way farmers plant and harvest, helping to meet the world's growing demands. Manufacturer John Deere becomes a leading innovator in this field and is widely recognized for its significant role in advancing agricultural machinery for nearly two centuries.
And it never stops innovating. It is currently exploring advanced technologies that can help shape and shape the future of agricultural machinery.
A brief introduction to John Deere
John Deere is the brand of the American company Deere & Company. It was founded in the year 1827 by Mr. John Deere and is headquartered in Moline, Illinois, with approximately 75,000 employees worldwide.
The company is best known in the agricultural sector and is considered one of the global market leaders in the manufacture of tractors and other agricultural machinery. However, John Deere also manufactures machinery for the forestry and construction industry, transmissions, diesel engines used in heavy equipment, as well as lawn care equipment.
In 1956, the company began production in Europe and has been operating in Ireland and the United Kingdom for over 50 years. Due to the popularity of this brand, from small farmers to owners of hundreds of hectares of land, they turn to its tractors and other agricultural equipment offerings. In fact, it is much easier to find maintenance shops and parts for John Deere tractors, such as Fortis JD parts, than other tractor brands.
It's important to note that security is a top priority for many innovators. For more information on heavy equipment, specifically rubber track repair and bobcat rubber tracks, the following video may be beneficial:
John Deere innovating the future of AgTech
Through its Moline Technology and Innovation Center, John Deere has evolved from a machinery company to a smart technology company that embraces modern innovation and the potential of emerging trends.
Here are some of John Deere's innovations in agricultural machinery:
The potential of electrification
Electrification does not mean no fuel tank. It involves replacing the entire engine. Electrically powered vehicles are highly efficient in terms of energy consumption and weight/power density ratio. Furthermore, transmissions become easy and quick to control, which is a prerequisite for autonomy. Furthermore, the absence of emissions, gear and engine oil makes it highly beneficial for the environment.
-
eAutoPowr Transmission
John Deere has innovated eAutoPowr, a continuously variable transmission that features electromechanical power splitting – an industry first. This makes agricultural vehicles more efficient and wear-free than conventional CVTs. Furthermore, this technology increases vehicle productivity by up to 45%. Joskin and John Deere collaborated on the slurry tanker truck with 2 electric axles to take advantage of the 100 thousand electrical energy available for external consumption. And because it is an 8-wheel drive system, the traction power transmitted is more efficient. Furthermore, it helps reduce pulp incorporation costs by at least 25%.
-
Zero emissions tractor
From John Deere's Series 1 compact utility tractor comes the electric compact utility tractor that features zero emissions and no exhaust emissions. This innovative and ecological tractor features a high PTO power that allows you to cut around 2 ½ acres with a single battery charge (approximately 4 ½ hours). In addition to the ecological benefits, the tractor also requires little maintenance.
-
Autonomy through automation
Full autonomy does not mean replacing a human operator. This involves giving the operator a new role as a supervisor, as the individual receives decision support from the intelligent system in real time.
-
Autonomous and Semi-Autonomous Tractors
John Deere is currently innovating autonomous and semi-autonomous tractors. The autonomous tractor concept is a compact electric drive unit with integrated attachment and has a total power of 500 kW. It can be equipped with tracks or wheels. And depending on the application, you can count on flexible ballast of 5 to 15 tons to help reduce soil compaction.
Meanwhile, John Deere is also creating a tractor that works semi-autonomously and has an integrated crop sprayer. With a built-in camera, it is possible, for example, to work in row crops, applying plant protection products to a fruit tree plantation. Sprayer tank filling can also be fully automatic at the filling station to prevent users from being exposed to pesticides. This design is said to reduce costs and increase productivity by at least 30%.
-
Autonomous Sprayer
It is a 560-liter spray tank with high ground clearance that makes it highly versatile for applying nutrients throughout the growing season. Additionally, tracks minimize pressure on the ground and extend the working window.
-
Autonomous Drone Sprayer
A recently introduced piece of equipment, the autonomous drone sprayer features a crop sprayer and a weed scanner. It can scan weeds and apply pesticides accurately. Its 10.6 liter tank is automatically filled at the field boundary station and is also where the battery can be automatically charged. The drone is said to fly for 30 minutes on a single battery charge.
-
Advancing with Artificial Intelligence
AI has been a hot buzzword for years. It refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines programmed to reason and think like humans and imitate their actions.
-
Smart targeting
John Deere, along with its recently acquired startup Blue River Technology, is launching the next generation of weed control devices that can significantly reduce pesticide use on crops.
“See and Spray” technology specializes in targeted elimination of weeds through computer vision and machine learning. Based on the 20 images captured by the high-resolution camera every second, the system's AI technology can differentiate between crop and weed throughout the cultivation phase.
Not only is it efficient, but this technology also opens up new possibilities for growing more ecological and sustainable crops.
-
Smart Spray Drone
Through a collaboration between Volocopter and John Deere, the VoloDrone was created. It is a large spray drone with a diameter of 9.2 meters and 18 rotors.
With its all-electric drive and replaceable lithium-ion batteries, a single charge can power the drone for up to 30 minutes in the air. This drone also has the ability to operate automatically and remotely on a pre-programmed route. As the drone frame is equipped with a flexible and uniform payload attachment system, you can mount different devices on the frame depending on the application. For example, if you use it for crop protection, the drone is equipped with 2 liquid tanks, a spray bar and a pump. Its low flying height also allows it to cover up to 6 hectares per hour.
Conclusion
In addition to the above technologies, John Deere continues to discover and take the lead in shaping a more advanced, productive and convenient agricultural landscape. The company ensures that farmers and other industries receive the best and smartest equipment possible to improve their work and their businesses.
