By Kendrick Givens

Special to The Moultrie Observer

MOULTRIE – A giant leap in technology has the possibility of shaking up the world of farming with the advent of autonomous tractors.

Ag Technologies, LLC has created an autonomous tractor capable of plowing, tilling, and harvesting without the need for a farmer in the driver’s seat. Their autonomous tractors that were on display, last week at the Sunbelt Ag Expo represent a major step forward in agricultural technology, offering farmers new levels of freedom and efficiency.

Technology and operation

Autonomous tractors use triple GPS technology to navigate across vast acres with no limit to how far they can travel, utilizing Sabanto Technology to handle various functions like steering, throttle, braking, power take-off, hydraulics, and the three-point hitch.

They operate 24/7, maximizing productivity. Since this technology does not need any rest, meals, or breaks, continuous operation allows farmers to free up their time for other important duties on the farm rather than being tied down to one piece of machinery, a company official said.

“We’re not looking to replace people on the farm – we’re looking to get those operators back their employees, taking them off the tractors and doing more jobs on the farm,” said Michael Brannon of Ag Technologies, LLC.

These tractors can be controlled remotely through any web-based device, including cellphones, computers, and tablets. This means an operator can manage a tractor in North Carolina while being physically located in Florida.

Efficiency and workflow

Autonomous tractors can easily move between plots of land without need of human intervention when the land has already been mapped out. The capabilities can reduce the downtime between fieldwork. Autonomous tractors will be able to till the land, plant seeds, and remove weeds from the fields without needing manpower on hand for the entire operation, and allow farmers to plan a full day’s tasks in advance.

Autonomous tractors can be set up for specific jobs, improving overall productivity without the need for constant supervision. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, farmers typically use their tractors for 100 to 200 hours per year. However, the number of hours worked may change according to the season, and many farmers work more than 40 hours per week.