Driverless Tractors?

There is a video on YouTube showing a Case-IH pulling a Kinze planter without driver. Or at least there was a video. Been a few years since I saw it.
 
My Grand Son had a spraying rig that is GPS steer. I think he has to turn at the end himself though. I have watched him spray but was never up in the cab.
 
Maybe someday but I wouldn't hold my breath. Think of the liability should a modern tractor, 500+ HP 4X4 malfunctioning and heading cross country. I think for the time being the companies are going to play with the idea but insurance companies are going to be slow at first to embrace it.

Rick
 
I imagine there are tractors of all types that are driverless, or nearly so now days. I know on the construction/mining side, most still have operators, but they can actually do all the work by themselves using GPS. On the mining side, specifically, some of the BIG quarries/mines have been running driverless haul trucks for years. The computer calculates things so the truck goes to the loading shovel that will get it loaded the fastest, to the crusher that is available to allow it to dump fastest, etc.
 
I saw a video of a John Deere several years ago - but have not been able to find it since.

It was a big box basically - like all hood - no cab.

Must have run somebody over or something since I've never seen it again.
 
I could see it happening, a lot easier to run a tractor by itself in a field than to send a truck down a freeway surrounded by idi..., well you get the idea!

As far as placing the tractor exactly where it should be and doing what it should do when it should do it, would be more accurate than human judgment.

But would it be practical as a money saving feature? Someone would still have to get the tractor to the field, odds are they would stay there to keep an eye on it, then have to bring it back, so would there be any real savings?
 
my dad told me of driverless tractors years ago -- my dad and one of his brothers plowed with three tractors with the two of them -- 3 model L cases -- wide fronts -- 4-14s case plows -- turn it around get it going to the other end and jump off -- one day in the hills one disappeared -- one thought it was on the other end and so did the other -- at the end of the day they found it in the creek at the other 80 -- still running and spinning in the mud -- took the other two L/s to get it out--good old days!
 
Going just a little. Is it the port of Antwerp in Holland that every single tug is automatic. The drivers are not allowed into the port itself and get there loads a mile or two away. Everything is computer controlled. VERY fast and work 24/7 no complaints. Hope I got this correct, but it was on one of the discovery channels.
 
Nope looked it up already. Hamburg and Rotterdam have fully automated lift terminals. Battery powered tugs and everything. It is on the net I just had to look it up Opps.
 
Only experimental units in operation. Seen a few for orchard mowing/spraying.
Would not be surprised to see them fully operational in 5 years time.
Hendrik, from The Netherlands.
 
The Western Producer did a story a few weeks ago about a farmer in Manitoba that has his grain cart tractor running around the field by remote control.
 
Kinze was working on a system to tend combines, so the combine operators and semi drivers would be there to oversee, but would need one less driver.

I was speaking to a friend of mine about a recent magazine article, which he had also read recently, [b:2ca3f60c47]while chisel plowing with GPS.[/b:2ca3f60c47]
 
Yes, the Autonomous Tractor Corporation of Fargo,ND makes both a complete no-driver tractor on tracks, diesel/eletric drive, 300+hp and also offers kits to repower existing 4wd tractors with diesel/electric drives.

They use a patented laser-guidance system instead of GPS. Pretty neat machines. One control unit can control up to 16 machines at once.
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