Thornfield vehicle guidance systems by ThornTek can be retrofitted to many types of vehicles and machines to perform various operations on farmland and on farms. There is currently one machine in operation in a vineyard in Orange, New South Wales, Australia.
What is the most striking according to the supplier?
Thornfield vehicle guidance systems can be retrofitted to many machines for precision driving at +/- 4 cm accuracy at speeds around 10 km/h and higher speeds at reduced accuracy. It controls steerable implements with +/- 2cm accuracy at speeds of 10 km/h.
How does the robot tractor with your system navigate and plan its work and paths?
Thornfield robotics will carry out a precision survey of the lands using their machines and will provide a path file to suit the individual users. Crop safety for vineyards is ensured through four collision avoidance touch sensors and one lidar. The system auto loads paths for fields and a single button press starts autonomous operation with automatic speed control.
How are implements operated and controlled by your system?
Implement folding/lifting is programmed at the path generation stage. Any number of sensors can be interfaced. Appropriate action can then be taken, for example, depleting chemical will text message the operator.
What are the safety features?
The ThornTek system relies on tractor’s warning and error messages to stop or shutdown(depending on warnings or critical errors). ThornTek now uses its own point cloud-based collision avoidance system as well as path deviation detection using machine learning algorithms for vineyard mowing. TornTek System automatically puts the tractor into safe mode if any of the software or hardware failure of the retrofitted components is detected.
What kind of work can your system do autonomously?
Currently operating in vineyards, for mowing and fertilising. It can be used a variety of other tasks, including (spot) spraying, tramline renovating and ploughing and planting.
Can you switch off autonomous mode and continue as a manned tractor for difficult work/circumstances?
Yes.
How many systems are currently in the field and where?
One tractor in Orange, NSW, Australia.
What is the cost price per ha compared with a manned tractor?
That’s unable to predict as the possible operations are widely varied.
Specifications
| Company name | ThornTek Autonomous Systems |
| Product name | Thornfield Vehicle Guidance Systems |
| Suitable brands and tractor/vehicle models | Almost all |
| Technical requirements for tractor/vehicle | Electrically controlled/hydrostatic preferred |
| Is your solution Isobus compatible? | No |
| Possible minimum and maximum driving speeds | 0,5 km/h – 15 km/h |
| Main components autonomous retrofit kit | GPS+Steering actuator+throttle actuator+braking (if needed)+Isobus J1939 compatible PLC+Embedded System+Software |
| Operator or driver nearby required | No |
| Price | €54,000 / US$ 65,600 |
| Countries the product is for sale/rent in 2022 | China |