KARL The Autonomous Tractor

2024 - Volume #48, Issue #3, Page #38

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KUHN officially entered the autonomous tractor field by presenting KARL at Agritechnica 2023.
KARL is a driverless tractor designed to work independently without human intervention and is aimed at arable crop production. An operator creates a work mission and places the robot at the desired location to automatically complete a task.
“KARL is a robotic tractor but not positioned to replace a tractor,” says Curt Davis, Director of Marketing and Product Management at KUHN Krause. “It’s a power unit designed to operate a fully autonomous system of implements for row crop production.”
The unit is 10 ft. wide for easy trailer transport between fields. It uses a hybrid diesel/electric power source with a 175-hp. Volvo engine to run an electric generator. The tractor features either 340-mm. or 450-mm. rubber tracks equipped with front and rear linkages to allow the use of multiple pass implements. Both tracks and implements are powered solely by electricity, creating a smooth drive engagement and precise implement adjustment capability.
The machine weighs 8.5 tons and is designed with both front and rear 3-pt. attachments. Linked tools transmit operational information and adjust parameters to match variable soils and vegetation covers.
KARL is controlled through a mobile or desktop interface. A combination of GPS mapping, geofencing, real-time kinematic positioning, radar, and LiDAR determine positioning and control the object detection system. Colored lighting bars alert bystanders of operational status and signal the operator if KARL encounters a problem.
Power harrows are the first implement in development, but KUHN promises many more.
The unit is designed to suit any farm size. “To match the operation size to the machine, a farm can add extra units working in unison,” Davis says. “We can easily scale with KARL.”
Its limited size and weight plus rubber tracks lower ground pressure and minimize compaction, helping control run-off and preserve roots and soil potential.
“We’re still in the development and refinement stages, but we’re hoping for commercial production within 5 years,” Davis says. “We want to ensure all the applications are covered, plus the unit’s usability and feasibility are in place.”
KARL will initially be produced at KUHN’s headquarters in France, with different marketing options, including direct sales, rentals, and leasing being considered.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, KUHN North America, Inc. 1501 W. 7th Ave., P.O. Box # 167, Brodhead, Wis. 53520 (ph 608-897-2131; curt.davis@kuhn.com; www.kuhn.com).

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KARL The Autonomous Tractor TRACTORS New Tractors KUHN officially entered the autonomous tractor field by presenting KARL at Agritechnica 2023 KARL is a driverless tractor designed to work independently without human intervention and is aimed at arable crop production An operator creates a work mission and places the robot at the desired location to automatically complete a task “KARL is a robotic tractor but not positioned to replace a tractor ” says Curt Davis Director of Marketing and Product Management at KUHN Krause “It’s a power unit designed to operate a fully autonomous system of implements for row crop production ” The unit is 10 ft wide for easy trailer transport between fields It uses a hybrid diesel/electric power source with a 175-hp Volvo engine to run an electric generator The tractor features either 340-mm or 450-mm rubber tracks equipped with front and rear linkages to allow the use of multiple pass implements Both tracks and implements are powered solely by electricity creating a smooth drive engagement and precise implement adjustment capability The machine weighs 8 5 tons and is designed with both front and rear 3-pt attachments Linked tools transmit operational information and adjust parameters to match variable soils and vegetation covers KARL is controlled through a mobile or desktop interface A combination of GPS mapping geofencing real-time kinematic positioning radar and LiDAR determine positioning and control the object detection system Colored lighting bars alert bystanders of operational status and signal the operator if KARL encounters a problem Power harrows are the first implement in development but KUHN promises many more The unit is designed to suit any farm size “To match the operation size to the machine a farm can add extra units working in unison ” Davis says “We can easily scale with KARL ” Its limited size and weight plus rubber tracks lower ground pressure and minimize compaction helping control run-off and preserve roots and soil potential “We’re still in the development and refinement stages but we’re hoping for commercial production within 5 years ” Davis says “We want to ensure all the applications are covered plus the unit’s usability and feasibility are in place ” KARL will initially be produced at KUHN’s headquarters in France with different marketing options including direct sales rentals and leasing being considered Contact: FARM SHOW Followup KUHN North America Inc 1501 W 7th Ave P O Box # 167 Brodhead Wis 53520 ph 608-897-2131; curt davis@kuhn com; www kuhn com

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