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Deere & Co. has unveiled a series of innovative products at CES 2025, with the highlight being the introduction of full autonomy in its 9 Series tractors, marking a significant advancement in agricultural technology for the company’s largest and most powerful models.
Based in Moline, Illinois, Deere also showcased a completely autonomous sprayer tailored for orchards, a pilot program for an autonomous articulated dump truck (ADT) aimed at mining use, and an all-electric, fully autonomous commercial mower slated for release later this year.
The first glance at the new machines occurred during a press event at John Deere’s farm in Gilroy, California in November. Observing the autonomous 9 Series tractors at work was a captivating experience. However, the autonomous ADT could not be demonstrated live due to a technical issue, although its impressive dimensions, including 5 ft (1.5 m) diameter wheels, conveyed the scale of the machinery involved.
Autonomy Enhanced in the 9 Series Tractors
The new fully autonomous John Deere 9RX tractor pulls a disc implement. | Credit: The Robot Report
The newly upgraded 9 Series tractors now include an autonomy package that can be factory-installed or retrofitted in the field. These tractors, featuring four-wheel drive and up to 830 horsepower, are essential for large-scale farming operations globally, according to Deere’s assessment.
This initiative illustrates Deere’s dedication to integrating autonomous technology throughout its product offerings. The company previously introduced the autonomous 8 Series tractor at CES 2022 and now has integrated full autonomy capabilities into its top-tier tractor line.
The core technology utilized for the 8 Series tractors has been successfully adapted for the 9 Series, utilizing familiar components such as the John Deere StarFire receiver, AutoTrac Turn Automation, and John Deere Operations Center to streamline operational efficiency.
Deere emphasizes that these advancements will help automate more complex agricultural tasks, beginning with processes like tilling and cultivation. Chief Technology Officer Jahmy Hindman elaborated on autonomy’s potential in various agricultural applications, noting the technical challenges posed by operations interacting with mature crops.
Enhanced Perception Capabilities in New Tractors
Front perception cameras on the John Deere 9-series tractors.
The upgraded perception package for the 9 Series tractors positions sensors atop the tractor, facilitating a complete 360-degree view, with the vision processing unit (VPU) now placed at the rear of the cab. Previously, sensors were mounted lower on the tractor, limiting visibility.
A New Solution for Orchard Growers
John Deere has fully automated orchard spraying with retrofits for its popular 5 Series tractors. Here is an autonomous 5130ML pulling a spraying tank. | Credit: The Robot Report
For farmers cultivating apples, stone fruits, and tree nuts, effective spraying is vital and can entail long hours, with some tasks requiring up to 10 hours of operation daily, multiple times a year. Traditional GPS systems face challenges with the dense canopies of orchards, making precision difficult.
Deere’s new autonomous diesel tractor addresses these issues, employing nine cameras, lidar, and sensors to navigate its environment efficiently. The autonomous John Deere 5130 ML was demonstrated at the event, successfully navigating orchard rows while pulling a spraying trailer.
Although the system requires a human operator to supervise it from a safe distance outside the chemical application zone, the new technology significantly improves safety and efficiency in orchard operations.
Trial Launch of Autonomous ADT
John Deere is automating the 460E-II Series of articulating dump trucks, for use in the mining market. | Credit: The Robot Report
John Deere has also introduced its first autonomous mining equipment, aiming to automate the repetitive task of material transport in quarries. The articulated dump truck (ADT), measuring 34 ft (10.4 m) long and 12 ft (3.7 m) high, boasts the capacity to haul over 92,000 lb (41,730 kg) of material, roughly equivalent to seven African elephants.
The operation of these trucks is essential in infrastructure projects, where large quantities of materials are routinely moved. Deere plans to initiate trials with the autonomous ADT this year, focusing on the structured environment of quarries that provides a conducive setting for testing autonomous technologies.
According to Maya Sripadham, a senior product manager at Deere, the predictable layout of quarries simplifies the implementation of autonomy, highlighting the repetitive nature of the tasks involved, which is beneficial for training and technology refinement.
The ADT makes use of vision for navigation and lidar for data gathering, allowing it to follow defined routes from pickup to drop-off points effectively. The Autonomous Operation Center empowers users to monitor control features, including:
- Unsupervised operation while enabling tracking of the truck’s activities.
- Customer oversight of the machine’s operations.
- 360-degree safety measures while adhering to preset paths.
This setup ensures operational efficiency while retaining operator control, enabling effective management of the autonomous vehicle’s capabilities.
Commercial Landscaping to Embrace Self-Driving Mowers
John Deere unveiled its first fully autonomous, electric commercial mower. | Credit: The Robot Report
Autonomous solutions have found a niche in the landscaping sector. Deere’s imminent launch of its first all-electric, fully autonomous commercial mower aims to compete in this increasingly competitive market. This new mower features a robust 21.4 kWh battery, providing up to 10 hours of continuous operation.
Compared to traditional gas-powered mowers, this model promises to be quieter and simpler to maintain. The mower utilizes only cameras within its perception stack and incorporates the “Generation 2 autonomy stack,” proven effective in Deere’s larger machinery.
Equipped with the reliable Starfire GPS receiver for accurate positioning, the mower’s core technology includes a rugged vision processing unit shared across Deere’s autonomous product line. While a specific launch date has not yet been confirmed, the mower is anticipated to debut in the latter half of 2025.
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