Kubota is showing an autonomous version of its M7004 tractor at Agritechnica.
Designed as a solution for European farms struggling to find labour during peak planting and harvesting periods, the M7004 Autonomous shares some of its technology with the Agri Robo previewed at the same German show in 2023.
The retrofit kit transforms the tractor with a full suite of sensors, vision systems, and control modules. High-precision GNSS navigation guides the tractor, while LiDAR sensors on both sides of the cab detect obstacles in real time. Clovis, Caïus, and Cleos modules manage vision and safety, supported by cameras and warning lights to enhance monitoring and visibility.
The project started in 2024, and autonomous tractor has worked with six different implements. Kubota and Kverneland implements integrate directly, while third party equipment can also be configured to work with the tractor.
The company reckons that in most conditions, around 80 percent of fieldwork can be completed autonomously, with only headlands or complex areas requiring manual control to maintain safety and precision. Also, by pairing smaller, lighter implements with intelligent automation, farms can downsize from 250-300hp tractors to 150-175hp versions.
The autonomous kit fits all M7 models with KVT and TIM technology, and one of the six test units planned for Europe in 2026 could come to the UK in the second half of the year.
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