Kubota, Japan’s largest agricultural machinery manufacturing company, has just introduced X tractor – a concept model of a super-plowing generation that will be put into use in 2030.
According to agricultural machinery manufacturer Kubota, Japan currently has very few farmers while the amount of land to manage is increasing. To solve that problem, the company recently unveiled a prototype of a modern farm tool that can help farmers. It’s a driverless tractor.
Presented at an exhibition in Kyoto, the tractor was called the X tractor. Although not many technical details are provided, it is an all-electric device, through a combination of lithium-ion battery pack and solar panels.
The X tractor operates using a combination of GPS, body sensors such as cameras, and an artificial intelligence (AI)-based guidance system that enables it to automatically move around both conventional and rice fields. Its AI system also allows the system to monitor factors like weather and crop growth, so it can actually decide when to go out and perform tasks like seeding, harvesting or tilling.
Instead of wheels, this tractor uses four “crawlers”, allowing for optimal traction on a variety of terrain. Each crawler system has its own built-in motor, allowing them to rotate independently at different speeds, resulting in a very small turning radius.
In addition, the height difference from the main body of the tractor to the crawler can be adjusted. It can be lowered when stability is needed, or raised when moving over tall tree beds.
The exterior design of this tractor is also futuristic, with impressive colors and curves.
Self-driving tractors are a new area that many big companies are eyeing in Japan, such as Yanmar and CNH Industrial.
