Demonstration of functional driverless tractor for Australian horticulture (AS17002)
What was it all about?
This project explored the potential of functional driverless tractors, based on artificial intelligence technology, in almond orchards to enhance operational efficiency. While it provided valuable insights, the project faced challenges related to connectivity in mature tree environments.
Challenges
The project faced a number of challenges, primarily related to connectivity issues in mature tree orchards, which hindered the performance of autonomous machinery. The dense canopy of mature trees disrupted signal transmission, making it difficult to achieve consistent results.
Additionally, ensuring compatibility across different service providers, navigating rapidly evolving AI technologies, and requiring higher levels of operator expertise complicated adoption. These challenges highlighted the need for ongoing adaptation to emerging technologies.
Response
The project trialled autonomous systems across young and mature orchards, finding success in less obstructed environments while connectivity issues persisted in fully canopied areas. Efforts focused on refining hardware, ensuring compatibility among service providers, and leveraging independent expertise to address challenges. Collaboration with technology providers shifted toward subscription-based models, enabling timely updates and performance improvements as technology evolved.
These adaptations underscored the importance of aligning service providers and maintaining flexible solutions to keep pace with advancements. While some key outcomes were unmet, the project offered valuable insights into overcoming barriers and fostering the long-term integration of autonomous solutions.
Benefits
Despite setbacks, the project highlighted the strong potential for autonomous machinery to reduce labour costs and enhance efficiency in farming. The insights gained will guide future developments, including improved connectivity solutions and training programs for farm operators.
The findings suggest as autonomous technologies evolve and become more cost-effective, their application across almond and other industries is expected to expand, driving innovation and fostering greater productivity in agriculture.
The final report for this project is confidential. Please email communications@horticulture.com.au to request access.
The project is assessing the performance of equipment that provides an autonomous system for tractors to operate in horticultural orchards. This project provides a demonstration of autonomous technologies/equipment in horticulture providing the momentum to adopt this step-change technology on-farm. The research team has worked through a range of options and determined that the most appropriate technology was provided by AME Group - GOtrack (you can find out more at https://amegroup.com.au/go-track).
The project team report progress in the following areas:
- The Almond Board of Australia has determined that reliable connectivity is essential to demonstrate the effectiveness of autonomous equipment and decided that the most appropriate coverage will be sourced through Connected Farms (you can find out more at www.connectedfarms.com.au).
- A GOtrack system was purchased and delivered to the ACE Orchard in March 2023 with systems checks and training being undertaken for key farm personnel.
- Now that a fully functioning system is operational at the ACE Orchard more videos, field days and presentations will be possible and best management practice can be captured with on-farm learnings and experience.
- A GOtrack System report covers information regarding ease of programming; accuracy of operations across a range of implements; and reliability as well as other information growers may want to know before taking on a subscription with AME Group. The GOtrack System report will be further refined to capture these learnings.
- Investment has been made into upgrading the connectivity at the ACE Orchard by purchasing a ‘Connected Farms’ 25m tower that uses LTE Band 28 (700MHZ) to ensure rich coverage across the orchard and tree mid-rows. This is the same system employed by the orchard in Victoria using GUSS autonomous sprayer. The tower has been fabricated and delivered to site and foundations are ready for installation. It is expected to be functional by the end of April 2023.
- Extension activities for the driverless tractor, provides an overview of the extension activities undertaken in the last 12 months including four Field Days convened by the ABA in each the Sunraysia, Riverland and Riverina regions including the ACE orchard.
- While some Video footage of the tractor operating has been captured during field day demonstrations additional footage will be captured now that the fully function GOtrack System is available at the ACE Orchard. This footage will be used to promote the use of driverless tractors to other industries.
- Additional field days, videos and articles will be produced extending to other industries now that a fully functional GOtrack System is available at the ACE Orchard.
The project is assessing the performance of equipment that provides an autonomous system for a tractor to operate, whilst traversing the orchard in programmed tasks. The purpose of this is to provide a demonstration of autonomous technologies and equipment in horticulture and in turn, create momentum so this innovative technology will be adopted.
Since the previous reporting period, where the compliance and regulatory issues were assessed and the decision to continue with the project was agreed, the Almond Board of Australia (ABA) has worked through a range of options, determining the most appropriate technology can be provided by AME Group - Go Track.
The ABA has also recognised that the use of autonomous equipment within the industry has a total reliance on reliable connectivity. However, reliable connectivity is not prevalent in several grower districts, including the location of its own ACE orchard. To demonstrate the effectiveness of autonomous equipment, it is essential to provide reliable localised connectivity. The project’s investigations have determined that the most effective coverage will be sourced through ConnectedFarms.
Two noteworthy outputs that have recently been delivered to support the project’s milestones, are a “Demonstration Day”, that was conducted on 9 February 2022 at the Loxton experimental farm, and a “Mildura Agtech Summit” demonstration in Sunraysia on 5 to 6 May 2022 in Sunraysia, NSW.