By leveraging real-time visual data, vision-based systems can identify and track crop rows, detect weeds, and adjust for irregular planting patterns - something traditional systems often struggle with. Photo: John Deere
Vision-based retrofit autosteer systems are quickly transforming agriculture, offering reliable, high-precision alternatives to traditional GPS-guided systems. With more companies launching easy-to-install kits, these systems are rapidly gaining traction in the market.
Vision-based systems use cameras, artificial intelligence, and advanced image processing to navigate rows, avoid obstacles, and optimize field operations – without relying on RTK or GNSS signals. They are therefore especially valuable in GPS-denied environments, and used under tree canopies, in mountainous terrain, or remote areas with poor connectivity.
By leveraging real-time visual data, these systems can identify and track crop rows, detect weeds, and adjust for irregular planting patterns – something traditional systems can struggle with. The result is reduced crop damage, more consistent coverage, and even higher operating speeds.
For example, John Deere’s AutoTrac Vision system enables up to a 20% increase in spraying speeds, while maintaining precise row alignment in corn, soybeans, and cotton during post-emergence operations.
Affordable and easy-to-install vision-based autosteer kits
Vision-based autosteer systems are used in applications such as planting, spraying, harvesting, and weeding. More companies have recently entered the market with affordable and easy-to-install vision-based autosteer kits. Competition is driving innovation and reducing costs, making the technology more accessible to small and mid-sized farms.
Highly versatile
Modern vision-based autosteer kits are also highly versatile. They can be retrofitted to most tractors and are compatible with a wide range of crops – from common row crops like corn, cotton, and soybeans, to specialty crops such as lettuce, carrots, and potatoes. Some systems are even tailored for orchard and vineyard use, as seen in FarmX’s OrchardPilot, which delivers sub-inch accuracy without the need for GPS or internet, even under dense canopies.
Bonsai Robotics has designed its AI-solution Visionsteer, which thrives in harsh conditions – dust, darkness, debris, and uneven terrain – while offering additional benefits such as crop data analysis and autonomous job planning. Their technology, deployed in U.S. and Australian tree nut orchards, demonstrates the growing international reach and robustness of vision-guided systems.
The market is also seeing increased accessibility, thanks to companies like MOVE ON and Raven Industries. MOVE ON’s TAS system uses visual odometry and SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) for sub-centimetre accuracy, while Raven’s VSN system relies on stereo cameras and fast image processing to maintain guidance at speeds over 20 mph – all without mechanical feelers.
As more companies enter the space with affordable, easy-to-install kits, competition is driving rapid innovation. Vision-based autosteer is no longer just a high-tech curiosity – it’s quickly becoming a vital tool for farms seeking to boost efficiency, reduce labour dependency, and maximize yields in an increasingly data-driven agricultural landscape.
