Kverneland and AgXeed teamed up to set the first world record for autonomous ploughing.
The 24-hour autonomous ploughing challenge achieved an output of 20.8ha (51.37 acres) using a driverless AgBot 5.115T2 pulling a five-furrow Kverneland LO 300/85 plough.
Carried out at Birch Farm, Stonegrave, North Yorkshire, it worked land at furrow widths of 40cm (16in) and at a depth of 22.5cm (9in) to prepare for maize and fodder beet. The 156hp rubber-tracked autonomous AgBot operated at forward speeds from 5.6kph up to 8kph on the rolling land, slowing only to carry out headland turn sequences.
Telemetry from the AgBot confirmed that fuel consumption from the diesel-electric powertrain totalled 382.72 litres over the 24-hour period, delivering a fuel efficiency figure of 18.4 litres/ha.
“The combination of Kverneland LO plough and AgBot achieved an output that would have taken two working days to complete with an operator using a similar powered tractor pulling a five-furrow plough,” said Adam Burt, Kverneland UK’s product specialist for ploughs. “Creating this record has highlighted the efficiencies available from using autonomous tractors for repetitive tasks.”
AgXeed UK sales manager, Peter Robinson, was equally positive about the AgBot’s 24-hour performance. “Having mapped the field boundary and created a job map complete with headland turns sequence, the AgBot worked tirelessly for 24 hours. It has proved that autonomy is not just for the mundane, repetitive tasks, but it can also be applied to more complex processes, such as ploughing.”
With multi-layer security systems built into the AgBot for operational safety, the 7t autonomous tractor was equipped with a 1.5t front weight to reinforce traction for the fully-mounted, five-furrow Kverneland LO plough.
The AgBot was momentarily stopped during the night, to top-up its 375-litre fuel tank to complete the 24-hour work period. The total area ploughed during the 24-hour challenge was verified by north Yorkshire farmer and former director of the Society of Ploughmen, James Whitty.
