Agriculture is being addressed more directly by technology brands as an industry that can benefit exponentially from autonomous solutions, so innovations like the Yanmar YR8D are being developed with this in mind.
The vehicle operates as an autonomous rice seedling transplanter that is controlled via an integrated waterproof tablet to perform duties in one of two modes, as required. The unit is aided by onboard global navigation satellite system (GNSS) technology and is capable of operating autonomously with an operator behind the wheel to prevent fatigue from long hours of use.
The Yanmar YR8D is set to only be available in Japan at launch on February 1, 2019 and will come with a retail price of about ¥3,955,000 to ¥5,545,000 (roughly $35,230 to $49,392).
Autonomous Rice Agriculture Vehicles
The Yanmar YR8D Aids with Rice Seedling Transplanting
Trend Themes
1. Autonomous Agriculture Vehicles - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop advanced autonomous vehicles for various agricultural tasks to increase efficiency and reduce labor costs.
2. Integrated Waterproof Tablets - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create durable and waterproof tablets integrated into specialized equipment for improved control and operability in challenging environments.
3. Onboard GNSS Technology - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrate global navigation satellite system (GNSS) technology into autonomous vehicles to enhance navigation accuracy and enable precise agricultural operations.
Industry Implications
1. Agriculture Technology - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop and market autonomous and integrated technology solutions for agricultural processes to drive productivity and sustainability.
2. Farm Equipment Manufacturing - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Design and manufacture advanced farm equipment, such as autonomous seedling transplanters, to cater to the growing demand for automated agricultural solutions.
3. Tablet Technology - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create rugged and waterproof tablets with specialized applications for use in challenging environments, including agriculture and construction sectors.