Fendt’s Xaver concept autonomous farming robot is gaining traction with additional software horsepower.
AGCO first announced a 2.53% equity investment in Apex.AI, an emerging leader in safety-certified software for mobility and driverless vehicles, in December 2021.
Today the two companies are announcing fast-pacing advancements made by created a software stack using Apex.AI in its concept vehicles, which can be easily transitioned to production units.
This software is notable because it uses automotive industry standards for real-time autonomous functions using:
- existing or future computer hardware,
- Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)
- and sensors such as cameras, radar and lidar
As a result, the Xaver has improved lidar object detection as well as collision checking and planning.
The latest Fendt Xaver is outfitted with Precision Planting components and plants seeds 24 hours a day, has sub-inch precision, and uses features a lightweight electric design producing zero emissions.
“Apex.OS is a foundational software framework and development kit for rapidly developing advanced autonomous capabilities,” Christian Kelber, Director, Engineering, AGCO said in a news release. “The technology has helped AGCO shorten R&D timelines of our smart agricultural solutions and for the future of highly automated robots. Coming from the automotive industry, Apex.AI enables us to implement safety-critical applications from autonomous driving that can be deployed across our range of solutions globally.”
AGCO has been working on autonomous swarming robotics since 2017.
The Fendt Xaver is integrated into the FendtONE platform, so farmers can manage the same guidance and as-applied maps across the autonomous and manned machines.
