SAE TOMORROW TODAY: Autonomous Tractors Promise to Transform Farming

Ag tech is poised to disrupt life on the farm. John Deere's new autonomous tractor uses stereo cameras, GPS guidance, and advanced AI to detect obstacles and navigate in the field. Farmers monitor and control it from a smartphone app. And it can free them from long days in the tractor seat, help ease labor shortages, and improve productivity and sustainability. Deere also recently opened a tech center in Texas and acquired Silicon Valley startup Bear Flag Robotics and Austrian battery maker Kreisel Electric. We spoke with Joseph Liefer, Senior Product Manager for Autonomy in the John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group (and a farmer himself), about cutting-edge innovation and the farm of the future. ICYMI, here's our podcast with Bear Flag Robotics.