John Deere has introduced its second-generation autonomy kit at CES 2025, expanding its efforts to automate machinery for agriculture, construction, and landscaping. Building on its self-driving tractor unveiled three years ago, the company’s new technology addresses a critical challenge: labor shortages in key industries.
Jahmy Hindman, Chief Technology Officer at John Deere, highlighted that sectors like agriculture and construction struggle to find enough qualified labor, with 2.5 million farm jobs in the U.S. alone remaining unfilled annually. The new autonomous systems aim to help overcome these challenges by reducing dependency on human workers and improving operational efficiency.
Versatile Autonomous Systems
John Deere’s autonomy kit is now being deployed across a range of machines, including large field and orchard tractors, articulated dump trucks (ADTs) for quarries, and commercial electric mowers. The systems work by allowing a human operator to initially map out work areas—such as fields, quarries, or lawns—after which the machines operate autonomously.
For real-time monitoring, operators can track operations remotely via the John Deere mobile app, which provides live video feeds and sensor data from the machines. This data includes vital information such as the depth of ploughs, furrow spacing, and obstacle detection during operations.
Advanced Technology and Connectivity
To ensure reliable connectivity, John Deere primarily uses AT&T’s 4G network across North America, and has recently integrated SpaceX’s Starlink satellite service to cover remote areas in the U.S. and Brazil. The system’s processing power is supported by Nvidia Orin GPUs, with vision processing units and GPS-based receivers like StarFire further enhancing the technology.
Applications Across Sectors
Agriculture: The new generation of autonomous tractors includes the XR9, designed for large-scale farming operations such as wheat and soybean fields. Equipped with 16 sensor-laden cameras, this model offers a 360-degree view to assist in complex farming tasks like tilling, planting, and harvesting. Full autonomy for tilling operations is expected by 2030.
Orchards: Smaller tractors are being used for autonomous tree spraying in dense orchards. This labor-intensive task typically requires multiple employees, but John Deere’s autonomous system, utilizing cameras, lidar, and sensors, aims to streamline the process.
Landscaping: The commercial electric mower, also using the same hardware as the tractors, features stereo cameras for a full view of its environment. The battery-powered mower is designed to reduce emissions and noise, making it suitable for early morning or late-night operations.
Quarries: The autonomous articulated dump truck (ADT) is the first such vehicle in John Deere’s construction equipment lineup. Designed to transport heavy materials in quarries, the ADT uses enhanced sensors to navigate the terrain, ensuring safety on quarry roads.
Future Prospects
John Deere’s autonomous machines are expected to be tested by a select group of customers in 2025. While the machines operate autonomously, remote human oversight remains integral, with operators able to monitor and intervene when necessary via mobile apps.
The expansion of John Deere’s autonomy technology underscores its commitment to addressing labor shortages and advancing automation across industries that rely on heavy machinery. As the technology evolves, the company aims to continue pioneering solutions for modernizing agricultural and construction operations.
Image by Insa Osterhagen from Pixabay
