Tractors are no longer simple and functional machines and are becoming complex vehicles loaded with technology. John Deere is one of the manufacturers that is leading this change. The American company presented its first fully autonomous tractor three years ago. Now, at CES 2025, it has shown its most recent models. This is the 9RX line, which can do much more than operate without a driver.
Behind this feature are 16 cameras that are responsible for providing a 360-degree view and LiDAR sensors that calculate depth. This set of features offers information that is analyzed by artificial intelligence (AI) and allows a driving decision to be made in about 100 milliseconds. The idea is for the tractor to avoid obstacles, such as trees, humans, vehicles, honeycombs, and pipes.
John Deere Autonomous Tractors
Agriculture has changed a lot over time. While many tasks remain tremendously labor-intensive, technology is allowing certain processes to be performed with a few taps on a touch screen. Users of these John Deere tractors, explains the firm, can schedule the route directly from your mobile phone and monitor operations in real time from the device.
According to the company, using these vehicles could be summarized in three steps:
- Take the tractor to the field.
- Configure autonomous operation.
- Slide your finger on the phone screen to start working.
There is certainly a lot of pre-planning work to know exactly where you will send the tractor to work. In any case, if the vehicle detects an obstacle or has a defect, the user receives a notification on their mobile phone. All this, as long as the fleet counts with connectivityalthough this should not be a problem because some John Deere tractors can also work with Starlink antennas.
John Deere’s 9RX line comes with different types of engines, the most ambitious being the 18-liter J18 and is capable of offering up to 913 HP. In addition to special additions for different types of tasks, customers can opt for cabins with many amenities. For example, electronic leather seats with heating, ventilation and massage. Touch screen with radio, USB ports and 12V socket, leather steering wheel, refrigerator and more.
Now, these machines have a starting Price that does not go unnoticed. In the United States, without additional elements, they count just over a million dollars. Now, entering the club of high-tech tractors also has another price: there are strict repair limits established by the manufacturer. This has led some of their customers to “hack” their tractors so they can repair them themselves.
Images | John Deere
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