2019 - Volume #43, Issue #4, Page #27
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Tractor “Swarms” Ready To Take Over Farm Fields
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“That’s less down pressure than a man walking,” notes James. “This year we could have been planting all through May. All those fields that couldn’t be planted with large conventional equipment this spring could have been planted with a swarm of Rabbit Tractors.”
At a price point of $15,000 to $20,000, James suggests that a farmer and his soil would be much better off with 20 of them than one $400,000 tractor. If one Rabbit Tractor breaks down, 19 continue working. If that one big tractor has a problem, fieldwork stops.
“If you look at the comparison on a production basis, such as acres per hour in the field, we will be comparable to existing equipment,” says James. “However, agronomic and logistical benefits are where the added value comes in.”
The Rabbit Tractors are 4-WD with 4-wheel independent steering and a top speed of 7 mph. They use a combination of sensors, computer vision and radar to recognize obstacles and use a living field map to learn the field.
“We create a field map and use it to introduce the machine to the field as it travels slowly across the field, learning elevations, obstacles, wet spots and more,” says James. “Every time it crosses the field, it gets smarter and can travel faster.”
The ability of the machine to learn and respond means that if a person steps in its path, the machine recognizes it is a human and either stops or goes around. Because it was a person, it doesn’t add it to the field map as a permanent object.
While the prototype is a rectangular platform, the next prototype will be a split unit with front and back modules and a workstation in the center. James is developing implements to ride on the workstation.
“This fall we will have a soil sampling machine and a corn replanter/cover crop seeder,” says James. “We’ll be doing field testing and plot work this fall. By next spring we plan to have 20 units in the field.”
He indicates several large companies are interested in the concept and will be field testing Rabbit Tractors this fall. If satisfied, field tests will continue next year. A number of farmers will also be leasing Rabbit Tractors for in-field work.
“We are working with an Indiana farmer to seed cover crops in 40-in. row corn in August,” says James. “The Rabbit Tractor will be able to travel under the canopy to seed the cover crops.”
James sees Rabbit Tractors as ideal for beginning farmers, as well as for small and large farmers. “From a capital expenditure standpoint, swarm farming is the only way to go,” he says. “You’ll be able to start with a smaller acreage and add equipment to the swarm as you add acres.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Rabbit Tractors, 11503 W. 131st Place, Cedar Lake, Ind. 46303 (ph 219 776-9545; zack@rabbittractors.com; www.rabbittractors.com).
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