Argentine combine harvester and sprayer manufacturer Metalfor unveiled the prototype of its VAX autonomous platform at the Argentinian AgroExpo 2024 trade fair.
Our Dutch colleagues at Mechaman.nl spotted this one. Developed jointly with Marinelli Technology, the prototype at the Buenos Aires show is based on the Metalfor 3025 (3,000l/25m boom) self-propelled sprayer. Power comes from a 153hp four-pot MWM engine mated to a hydrostatic transmission. The spray boom on the unmanned prototype has a width of 32m.
The VAX (Autonomous Vehicle X) is a multi-purpose platform, and the manufacturer sees scope to use it for other autonomous field tasks, such as granular and liquid fertilizer application, drilling and possibly even harvesting. The company reckons it needs a couple of years to complete the project.
Metalfor, which is located in Córdoba, Argentina, is not alone in developing an autonomous self-propelled sprayer. John Deere showed a prototype at Agritechnica 2019.
John Deere shows autonomous sprayers – Profi
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