These days in Boone (Iowa, USA), an exhibition of innovative technologies in agriculture, Farm Progress
http://farmprogressshow.com
"The highlight of the program" was the presentation of an unmanned tractor, which was developed jointly by Case IH and CNH Industrial Innovation Group.
Stand-alone concept is based on the existing Magnum tractor from Case IH, but the appearance had completely changed.
The machine is equipped with a fully interactive interface that allows the operator to remotely control the execution of the programmed operations. Onboard system automatically takes into account the width of the towing equipment and a map of the most efficient routes, depending on terrain, obstructions and other equipment operating on the same field.
The tractor is also equipped with radar, lidar (EDM) and on-board cameras - these devices help to detect mobile and stationary objects in the path of the machine. In case of interference, as well as the loss of the GPS signal or data of the current coordinates "smart" self-tractor stops and waits until the operator asks him a new route.
Several of these tractors can operate stand-alone as a single park, the developers added. For example, it is possible to organize the work so that one tractor pulling subsoiler on the field, and right behind him was walking with another drill. Such opportunities in the future will increase the efficiency of agricultural work dozens of times, developers are assured.
Incidentally, this same technology can be used on standard tractors with cabin - for example, real-time tracking of meteorological and satellite data, which are needed for irrigation and spraying fertilizer.
For more information about the new product is presented on the website of the developer:
http://www.cnhindustrial.com/en-US/media/press_releases/2016/august/pages/CNH_Industrial_brands_reveal_concept_autonomous_tractor_development_Announcement.aspx