Case IH and Raven develop world’s first autonomous spreader

Unveiled at Farm Progress Show 2022, this innovative solution is to deliver on customers’ demands for autonomous equipment to help solve labor challenges and increase productivity on their operations.

The Case IH Trident 5550 applicator with Raven Autonomy offers driverless technology with an agronomically designed spreading platform for a flexible autonomous solution. The technology stack is powered by guidance and steering, propulsion control, perception, and path planning software developed by Raven.

Plan and complete operations from a mobile device

From a mobile device, operators can plan and complete an entire field operation based on mapped field boundaries. The Raven Autonomy perception system, through a series of advanced cameras and radar system, is constantly sensing a 360-degree environment around the machine for obstacles and motion initiation while operating.

With artificial intelligence, Raven’s perception controller processes the continuous stream of images, which interprets and detects obstacles. The remote operator can view the cameras through the mobile device at any time.

If an obstacle is detected, the machine will safely come to a stop and an alert will pop up on the mobile device. From there, the operator can evaluate the situation and determine the next course of action.

A variety of machine tasks and functions can be viewed remotely through the mobile device, including but not limited to fuel level, Diesel Exhaust Fluid level, speed, revolutions per minute (RPM), bin-level status, Universal Terminal information and diagnostic trouble codes.

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One or more driverless machines in the field

The Case IH Trident 5550 applicator with Raven Autonomy allows for one or more driverless machines in the field without an operator present in the cab, providing the flexibility of full control inside or outside the cab. By operating at a constant speed and with precision, the autonomous applicator is to provide the ultimate spreading consistency and allows for repeatable performance with sub-inch accuracy.

The Case IH Trident 5550 applicator with Raven Autonomy will be operating in the North American market with limited availability in 2023.