Integrating AI into farm machinery, this semi-automated tractor by UAS-B reduces driver’s role to a minimum

A semi-automated tractor by University of Agricultural Sciences-Bengaluru reduces driver’s work with features including automated steering, pesticide spraying and fertiliser broadcasting applications, among others.

The University of Agricultural Sciences-Bengaluru (UAS-B) has notched up its efforts at integration of AI into farm machinery by developing a semi-automated tractor, which has reduced the role of driver to a minimum, at its Centre for Innovation and Development in Smart Agriculture (CIDSA).

Said to be the first such working model in the country, the semi-automated tractor will have an automated steering that follows a pre-set pathway which will be fed into its electronic control system. A driver is needed to take the U-turn and operate the clutch, break and gear. But the drudgery for the driver is minimised.

In a regular operation, the driver has to not only monitor the movement of the tractor, but also focus on tilling or spraying of pesticides. With semi automation, even a person without much skill in handling tractor-mounted farm devices can operate it, says Professor H.G. Ashoka, special officer of the University’s College of Engineering. 

UAS-B Vice Chancellor Dr. S.V. Suresha says that the University is already working towards developing fully automated driver-less tractors in the next phase.  

Presently, the automation is not just confined to steering control — AI technology is also being used to spray pesticides and apply fertilisers among others in addition to helping the driver understand whether there is any variation in depth level in tilling. The tractor-mounted fittings like boom sprayer that sprays pesticides and automated fertiliser broadcaster that takes care of application of fertilisers will work automatically as per the requirement calculated on the basis of the nature of the soil and crop that would be fed into the control system.  

“The pesticide spraying and fertiliser broadcasting applications work with so much precision that there is no overlapping or over-spraying than the required quantum. Also, the nozzles of the sprayer close themselves when the vehicle is moving on empty land so that the pesticide is not wasted,” observes Anand Huggi, Manager of the Centre.