I’ve been thinking about robots on the farm for a long time myself. I’ve always approached the idea from the view point of cheaply modernizing tractors first so that more farmers would benefit. My idea would be to take a platform that farmers already love: the desiel tractor and start adding more automation. There’s so much already invested in the three point hitch, hydraulics, pto, and other systems that it just makes sense to build on it. There’s several tasks that are perfect to build automation on. A big one where I’m from is hay harvesting it’s a four step process that could take days. Having the ability to get these task done async without involving help would be a boon to farmers.
I see modernizing tractors as a 4 step process.
1: add automation to existing tractors. Mountable kit that would cost less than $10k
2: replace said tractor with electric variant that has the same platform. Target price $30k
3: provide a way to charge based on solar power (most automation worthy farm task need to be done on a sunny day anyways) Target price would probably be in the $20k range.
4: Build smaller more specialized tractor replacements like what’s shown here. Shooting for a sub $20k platform average.
Seems like only a matter of time till Tesla has something on the burner for this. After pickup truck I think they are doing a electric bike then after that.....
I see modernizing tractors as a 4 step process.
1: add automation to existing tractors. Mountable kit that would cost less than $10k
2: replace said tractor with electric variant that has the same platform. Target price $30k
3: provide a way to charge based on solar power (most automation worthy farm task need to be done on a sunny day anyways) Target price would probably be in the $20k range.
4: Build smaller more specialized tractor replacements like what’s shown here. Shooting for a sub $20k platform average.