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47 allowing crop spraying and sensing UAVs to work together. This can allow a UAV with an electro-optic, infrared or even a hyperspectral camera to survey a field and identify problems with crops that may not be visible to the naked eye. Specific areas can then be sprayed, reducing the amount of pesticides used. This is only possible by using one UAV with a high-performance camera and a separate craft for spraying. It also keeps the expensive, sensitive cameras away from the more hostile environment of the crop spraying. Aerial systems are not just used for crop spraying though. They can be used for monitoring soil erosion, tracking livestock across large areas, detecting weather- related damage and estimating crop yields. All this helps to reduce the use of herbicides and fertilisers, reducing costs. As a result, UAV developers have been extending the range of aerial platforms. For example, the Hydrone 1800 Unmanned Systems Technology | December/January 2017 The New Holland NHDrive concept autonomous tractor from CNH International is based on the company’s T8 Blue Power model, and was developed in collaboration with technology provider Autonomous Solutions Inc (ASI). The prototype has an 8.7 litre, 340 hp engine and a maximum speed of 31 mph (50 kph). The NHDrive is a fully autonomous unmanned vehicle that can be monitored and controlled via a desktop computer or a portable tablet interface. Equipped with a seeder, it is able to autonomously seed the next crop directly behind the combine as it is harvesting the current crop. Farmers can access the data on the tractor wherever they are, allowing them to optimise the operational efficiency and productivity, and New Holland emphasises that the farmer maintains full control and ownership of the data. The tractor has the same cab as a standard T8, so it can also be used for operations where complete autonomy is not yet possible, such as front loader work or high-speed road transport. It is aware of other manned vehicles in the field by using a suite of sensors that give it environmental awareness. Lidar and radar sensors allow it to detect obstacles, and the ASI software allows the central controller in the tractor to plan a route around an obstacle or automatically stop if there is another vehicle in its path. The Lidar sensors create a 3D point cloud in front of the tractor and across the entire width of its implement. An array of radars is mounted to the front of the tractor, and these detect objects containing water or metal, and can be used in dusty conditions. Forward- and rearward-facing RGB cameras provide a live video feed to the operator’s interface. That means the NHDrive can work alongside other autonomous machines and can also work in tandem with machines driven by an operator. Going forward, it will be able to completely automate grain handling during the harvest when equipped with a trailer, including unloading, transport and offloading activities. The connectivity to the tractor is handled by a combination of radio, cellular, satellite and wi-fi, depending on how the customer operates and which networks are available, says ASI. New Holland has also designed a new cooling system to reduce the size of the tractor’s radiator and consequently the cooling fan’s power requirement. The system relies on two loops: a high-temperature loop to cool the engine and a low- temperature loop to cool the vehicle systems locally, averaging out the heat rejection requirements. The thermal module has only two radiators, one for the engine cooling and one for the low-temperature loop. The traditional air-to-liquid radiators are replaced with plate heat exchangers, which are much more efficient. This provides high flexibility in the system’s packaging, which enables a new layout of the components that reduces the power requirements of the fan. The smaller radiators and optimised layout leave more free space under the hood, while the simplified thermal module makes maintenance and cleaning the exchanger far easier than with a conventional layout. The coolant flow rate can be dynamically balanced using an electric pump to manage the coolant distribution, with dedicated valves to serve the components operating in the most critical temperature conditions. It is a modular system, so additional coolers can be added if required. New Holland expects its tractor range and other agricultural equipment to be equipped with the NHDrive technology over the next few years. Building an autonomous tractor The NHDrive has the same cab as the manned version, for when complete autonomy is not possible (Courtesy of ASI/CNH International)