Yanmar Demonstrates Autonomous Agricultural Machinery at Joint Thailand-Japan Project

The project was implemented in line with the Thailand 4.0 economic model, a long-term economic strategic plan focusing on promoting the country's agricultural industry with the aim of increasing productivity and implementing cost reduction efficiencies for Thai farmers through the adoption of high-precision agricultural technology. To help the farmers achieve these goals, Yanmar has designed and developed agricultural machinery and implemented a pilot project demonstrating the operation of 4 autonomous agricultural machinery models that are equipped with GNSS receivers, for efficient operation and high-precision position control.

• Demonstrated agricultural machinery

For the demonstration, Yanmar chose 4 models of innovative agricultural machinery including the YT5113A autonomous tractor and the YR8D auto rice transplanter. Both machines are among Japan's most advanced agricultural machinery. Two other products demonstrated were the YN1180 combine harvester and the YM357A tractor equipped with automatic steering wheel control and performance and operation monitoring systems. Both the YN1180 combine harvester and the YM357A tractor are currently available on the Thai market. For this project, Yanmar used prototypes of the YN1180 and YM357A that incorporated autonomous control systems for both straight maneuvering and steering operations. The system utilized data received from Thailand's GNSS to for precision speed and location control in the demonstration rice fields.

• Rice farming using smart driverless tractors

Yanmar showcased its autonomous rice farming technology with a demonstration of 2 tractors working simultaneously - one for soil tillage and another for direct seeding. The YT5113A driverless tractor worked at the front and performed soil tillage operations. The YT5113A was followed by the YM357A tractor equipped with automatic turn steering control system and performed a direct seeding operation. This simultaneous operation saves rice farmers both time and labor. Using a tablet containing rice field data and pre-specified working plan one operator can control both tractors, using GNSS-supplied data allowing simultaneous planting and coordinate finding. This revolutionary operation facilitates efficient, automatic rice planting on pre-specified rows.

• Rice farming with the YR8D rice transplanter

Beside the two tractor models that allow simultaneous soil tillage and seeding, Yanmar also demonstrated the operation of the YR8D rice transplanter equipped with automatic steering control with two operational modes that support both straight steering and turn steering at both ends of the rice fields. With a GNSS receiver, accurate location data can be transferred and positions for rice transplanting can be instantly located. The transplanter not only yields superior produce quality, but also helps save time, cost, and labor. 

• Rice harvesting with the YH1180 combine harvester

Rice harvesting was done by the YH1180 combine harvester equipped with the SmartAssist Remote (SA-R) and round-type steering wheel. The combine is fitted with automatic straight steering control which enables free maneuverability of the steering wheel. This is a new Yanmar technology that allows the operator to control the combine harvester along the field edges more easily, to save time without damaging the plot, and easily maneuver through narrow routes. The combine harvester is also fitted with a grain tank yield sensor to accurately detect harvest yields. A GNSS receiver facilitates farm management with advanced functionality that supports Thailand's rice productivity.

As a leader in agricultural technology, Yanmar is pleased to be part of the pilot social project aiming for technological development in Thailand to accelerate Thai society towards being a smart agricultural society as part of the country's 20 year strategic plan for agricultural promotion (Thailand 4.0). Each of our technologies has been developed to respond to modern farmers' need for both time and energy savings as well as the sustainable increase of productivity. In the future, Yanmar plans to adopt more information and communication technologies for our products and services to boost our customers' productivity, reduce their need for labor, and retain our position as a leader in sustainable agriculture.

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