Kverneland has partnered with Agxeed to establish a new challenge in the world of agricultural robotics by ploughing 20.8ha (51.37 ac) in a 24-hour period.
The event took place at Birch Farm, Stonegrave, North Yorkshire using a driverless 156hp Deutz-powered AgBot 5.115T2 pulling a five-furrow Kverneland LO 300/85 plough.
Working on-land at furrow widths of 40cm (16in) and at a depth of 22.5cm (9in) to prepare land for maize and fodder beet, the rubber-tracked autonomous AgBot operated at forward speeds from 5.6kph up to 8kph, slowing only to carry out headland turn sequences.
Agxeed fuel economy
Telemetry from the AgBot confirmed that fuel consumption from the diesel-electric powertrain totalled 382.72L over the 24-hour period, delivering a fuel efficiency figure of 18.4L/ha.
Kverneland suggests that the output would have taken an operator using a similar powered tractor pulling a five-furrow plough two working days to complete.
The company also believes that the Kverneland No.28 bodies mounted on the LO plough makes it one of the easiest on the market to pull, and it is this low draft requirement that resulted in the favourable fuel consumption figures.
Creating this record has highlighted the efficiencies available from using autonomous tractors for repetitive tasks, according to the company, as the technologies are now capable of more complex tasks such as ploughing.
One stop
The 7t autonomous tractor was equipped with a 1.5t front weight to reinforce traction for the fully-mounted, five-furrow Kverneland LO plough.
The AgBot was momentarily stopped during the night, to top-up its 375L fuel tank for the remainder of the 24-hour work period.
The total area ploughed during the 24-hour challenge was verified by North Yorkshire farmer and former director of the Society of Ploughmen, James Whitty.
Kverneland UK would like to thank the following for their cooperation in this exercise: Peter Armitage of Birch Farm, Stonegrave, near York, for providing the location; and James Whitty for verifying the area ploughed.
