• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • Your Membership
    • Edit Your Profile
  • Services
    • Advertising
    • Case studies
    • Design
    • Email marketing
    • Lead generation
    • Magazine
    • Press releases
    • Publishing
    • Sponsored posts
    • Webcasting
    • Webinars
    • White papers
    • Writing
  • Shop
    • My Account
    • Cart
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Terms of use
  • Events

Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

  • News
  • Features
  • Video
  • Webinars
  • White papers
  • Press releases
  • Featured companies
    • AMD Xilinx
    • BlueBotics
    • Elite Robot
    • RGo Robotics
    • SICK Sensor Intelligence
    • Vicor Power
autonomous tractor

Autonomous Tractor boss says new technology can help farmers halve their costs

September 12, 2016 by Sam Francis

The Autonomous Tractor Corporation is close to launching a range of new technologies which it says will help farmers halve their equipment costs. 

In exclusive comments to Robotics and Automation News, Kraig Schulz, CEO of ATC, says the company’s latest eDrive system would cost between $250 and $500 per horsepower.

This is approximately half the cost of a new tractor, which costs anywhere between around $750 and $1,000 per hp.

Schulz says: “The system costs will obviously depend on configuration, horsepower, and so on, but we can have a retrofit eDrive system for a 325 hp sprayer done, installed, ready to go for about $75,000 which is a little less than having the whole thing rebuilt with hydrostatic drives – about $80,000.

“And the electric drives are expected to last at least five to 10 times longer. You can also look at the 400 hp version we did on the big, articulated 8760 Deere tractor.

“That, installed and all ready to go is about $225,000 with new engines and everything. So we expect something between $250-500 / hp depending on if we need to replace the engine, and so on. Compare that to a new tractor costing somewhere between $750-1,000 / hp. It is obviously hard to be precise here because of all of the variations but hopefully this gives you a starting point.”

ATC develops a range of automation technologies for agriculture, such as autonomous sprayers. 

Schulz says ATC’s approach to technology for agricultural machinery that many other companies is distinct from other companies.

“We are taking a somewhat different approach than what seems to be emerging from the big companies,” he says.

“First, we are using an electric drivetrain to reduce cost and fuel consumption while improving safety and reliability. You can see one of our electric motors driving the wheel of a Deere self-propelled sprayer. We are in the final throes of finishing up that and a couple of other units that we will deliver to our customers here in the coming few months.

Schulz adds that while he believes there will be greater levels of automation and autonomy, driverless tractors are not one of the company’s priorities.

“We think that autonomous, self-propelled implements – like our automated sprayer and even tillage equipment – are the future, not autonomous tractors,” says Schulz.

“So we are working more in that direction because it makes the cost so much more attractive and really simplifies the problem of control.”

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Print
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest
  • Skype
  • WhatsApp
  • Telegram
  • Pocket

You might also like…

Filed Under: Industry, News, Transportation Tagged With: automation, autonomous, deere, edrive, electric, equipment, farmers, sprayer, system, technology, tractor

Join the Robotics & Automation News community

Primary Sidebar

Latest articles

  • AMD launches Kria ecosystem program to help developers bring automation solutions to market faster
  • Manufactured in the metaverse: Mercedes-Benz designs virtual factories with Nvidia Omniverse
  • Foxconn plans to build autonomous vehicles on Nvidia computing platform
  • Geek+ provides 82 robots to C-StoreMaster’s new $20 million distribution warehouse in Huntsville, Alabama
  • Flexiv launches ‘revolutionary’ force-controlled parallel robot
  • The Core Concepts of Successful Online Stock Investing
  • UPS and Gap units partner to offer ‘unmatched automation and supply chain capabilities’ to apparel merchants
  • stow Robotics and Phononic collaborate to design cold chain fulfillment solutions
  • Three strikes and you’re out! Humans give up on robots after multiple mistakes
  • China overtakes USA in robot density

Most Read

  • Why is My Car Key Stuck in the Ignition?
    Why is My Car Key Stuck in the Ignition?
  • Top 20 electric vehicle charging station companies
    Top 20 electric vehicle charging station companies
  • Difference Between Three-Phase and Single-Phase Power
    Difference Between Three-Phase and Single-Phase Power
  • How to Know if Your iPhone is Being Tracked? Check This!
    How to Know if Your iPhone is Being Tracked? Check This!
  • Manufactured in the metaverse: Mercedes-Benz designs virtual factories with Nvidia Omniverse
    Manufactured in the metaverse: Mercedes-Benz designs virtual factories with Nvidia Omniverse
  • The Best Mechanical Engineering Design Software in 2022
    The Best Mechanical Engineering Design Software in 2022
  • Foxconn plans to build autonomous vehicles on Nvidia computing platform
    Foxconn plans to build autonomous vehicles on Nvidia computing platform
  • Top 20 programmable logic controller manufacturers
    Top 20 programmable logic controller manufacturers
  • DHL becomes first to install Boston Dynamics’ Stretch robot to unload trucks
    DHL becomes first to install Boston Dynamics’ Stretch robot to unload trucks
  • Scientists have found more water in space than they ever knew possible
    Scientists have found more water in space than they ever knew possible

Overused words

ai applications automated automation automotive autonomous business china companies company control customers data design development digital electric global industrial industry logistics machine manufacturing market mobile operations platform process production robot robotic robotics robots safety software solution solutions system systems technologies technology time vehicle vehicles warehouse

Secondary Sidebar

Latest news

  • AMD launches Kria ecosystem program to help developers bring automation solutions to market faster
  • Manufactured in the metaverse: Mercedes-Benz designs virtual factories with Nvidia Omniverse
  • Foxconn plans to build autonomous vehicles on Nvidia computing platform
  • Geek+ provides 82 robots to C-StoreMaster’s new $20 million distribution warehouse in Huntsville, Alabama
  • Flexiv launches ‘revolutionary’ force-controlled parallel robot
  • The Core Concepts of Successful Online Stock Investing
  • UPS and Gap units partner to offer ‘unmatched automation and supply chain capabilities’ to apparel merchants
  • stow Robotics and Phononic collaborate to design cold chain fulfillment solutions
  • Three strikes and you’re out! Humans give up on robots after multiple mistakes
  • China overtakes USA in robot density

Footer

We are…

Robotics and Automation News was established in May, 2015, and is now one of the most widely-read websites in its category.

Please consider supporting us by becoming a paying subscriber, or through advertising and sponsorships, or by purchasing products and services through our shop – or a combination of all of the above.

Thank you.

Independent

Archivists

September 2016
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
« Aug   Oct »

Complex

Old-skool

This website and its associated magazine, and weekly newsletter, are all produced by a small team of experienced journalists and media professionals.

If you have any suggestions or comments, feel free to contact us at any of the email addresses on our contact page.

We’d be happy to hear from you, and will always reply as soon as possible.

Future-facing

Free, fair and legal

We support the principles of net neutrality and equal opportunities.

Member of The Internet Defense League

Copyright © 2023 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT