In it agricultural horizon Intelligent machines can be seen work without drivers and let them be capable from change the planned work independently, in view of changed general conditions. HE They add hybrid tractors and combines or only with electric motors and drones with a capacity of 300 kilos to apply crop protection products locally according to regulations. The Automated farming is quickly making its way into the world Increase yields, reduce risks for operators and make implementation, protection and harvesting tasks easier.
Nicolas Marinelli, 32 years old, single, currently managing a family farm nearby One-eyed deer in which agricultural activities are carried out, to which is added a company that offers harvesting, planting and spraying services.
The Marinelli family’s connection with agriculture began 60 years ago, when Nicolás’ grandfather José Marinelli worked at the Giubergia combine harvester factory. Based on the knowledge he acquired there, he purchased a threshing machine and began providing harvesting services, laying the foundation for an activity that would become consolidated over time.
The company continued to develop for many years until Sergio Marinelli, Nicolás’ father, joined. Sergio Marinelli was a pioneer in the development of precision agriculture, creating the country’s first yield map using a John Deere combine.
Over time, it expanded the range of services to include planting and spraying tasks and promoted various technical innovations. When Sergio joined, the harvested grain was packed into the machine and the sacks were dumped in the field.
The businessman developed a hopper to store grain in the combine itself, Innovation later adopted by the Giubergia factory using self-made funnels.
The company then purchased new combine harvesters into which it installed this system, resulting in a significant improvement in operational efficiency. Over time, production on foreign fields was also encouraged, in addition to the further provision of tillage, planting and harvesting services.
With a spirit of innovation, he continued to develop together with Nicolás an aerial photography service. Both took flights in a small plane from which Nicolás took pictures of the fields, restrained with a seat belt while the plane’s door remained open with a lock. These photos provided important information for productive decisions in the areas examined.
Thanks to this growth process, the family was able to acquire a fraction of the field on which they now grow a traditional agricultural rotation consisting of 33% wheat, soybeans and corn, under a no-till system that has been maintained for many years. On the other hand, the contracting company is currently carrying out work on more than 6000 hectares per year.
Nicolás Marinelli not only takes care of the family business, but is also an enthusiast for the technology used in agriculture. He recently attended Agricultural engineering and leads Marinelli technology, a company dedicated to consulting and developing technological solutions for the agricultural sector. Marinelli was the winner of one Gold medal in it Ternium Expoagro Award for agro-industrial innovation and the German Agricultural Society (DLG), which organizes Agritechnica, brought it to the exhibition. He developed a development that facilitates the automation and robotization of all machines in agriculture and other activities.
According to Nicolás, “there is currently a wide availability of agricultural technology that can be used in companies”, although he warns that “its implementation requires training, adaptation to each individual case and a deep understanding of the tools”. These are not standardized technologies that can be used equally in all companies.
Marinelli notes that agricultural activity is rapidly shifting toward digital farming, largely due to a generational shift that requires new technologies to address inefficiencies and reduce human error when performing tasks.
In this context, he assumes that the future of the industry will be characterized by increasing automation, with robotics being the central protagonist. “The new tools make it possible to optimize the use of machines, reduce risk situations and reduce operator fatigue, as well as improve the quality of work in planting, protecting and harvesting crops, which has a positive impact on yields compared to traditional agriculture.” stands out.
By “landing” these concepts in everyday work, he points out that autopilot is already a widespread technology and is now standard equipment on tractors, field sprayers and combine harvesters. It doesn’t replace the man in the booth, but it makes his job easier once he configures how the work should be done and loads the information to make it work properly.
Looking to the future, Marinelli estimates that in a short time it will no longer be necessary for a person to spend all day in the cab of a tractor or combine. “The sprayers will be able to detect obstacles like a tank, recognize them and make decisions to avoid them autonomously,” he predicts.
In a world where the future is rapidly turning into the present, the inclusion of artificial intelligence in sprayers allows them to decide autonomously on productive issues. For example, whether or not they continue an application due to changes in wind direction or speed.
All of these systems generate data that can be accessed remotely in real time to function as real systems “black box” the operation. Even for applications close to urban areas, this information can serve as evidence that the work was carried out in compliance with the necessary precautionary measures and can be checked in the event of a conflict.
In the tractors, Artificial intelligence has also enabled advancements in automation systems that allow a specific task to be programmed. “Once the task has started, the operator could leave the machine and monitor the work remotely using a tablet,” it is hoped.
Technology installation is particularly intensive in combine harvesters. Nowadays, all machines have monitors that can be used to create performance maps. In addition, automatic systems large combine harvesters They calibrate threshing using information collected by sensors that analyze the incoming material.
“If they detect excessive debris, the system automatically adjusts the cleaning; if they detect excessive losses, they adjust the threshing devices,” explains Marinelli.
In this way, tasks that previously required the machinist’s experience are now completed automatically and even adapted to batch changes or different working conditions throughout the day.
In addition, there are machines that regulate the forward and reel speed according to the condition of the crop. For example, if cameras detect a green spot in a batch of wheat in advance, they automatically reduce the speed to avoid traffic jams.
In short, traditional mechanical engineering is giving way and being combined with electrical engineering, with the integration of traditional parts with sensors, software and intelligent systems. Marinelli is also observing strong growth in the use of drones in agriculture, which, thanks to the further development of batteries, now have a larger payload capacity – sometimes up to 300 kilograms – and flight ranges of 30 minutes.
These devices are automated and enable reconnaissance flights to identify weed sources. Based on this information, spot applications can be prescribed to the areas avoiding area sprays and achieving greater efficiency. These latest generation drones enable the application of herbicides, insecticides and fungicides and, more recently, solid fertilizers.
Looking to the future, the emergence of hybrid machines stands out. At the last Agritechnica, a combine harvester with electric motors for transmissions and hydraulic systems was presented. It also appeared Hybrid tractors and even 100% electric, powered by easy maintenance and the use of cleaner energy compared to internal combustion engines.
In this sense, a dizzying process of change is unfolding in the machines and labor that agriculture requires. Progress doesn’t require permission and is already changing the way we work. In the near future, there is a possibility that the figure of the tractor driver/harvester who works hard in a hut all day will become blurred. It will probably develop other functions and the French wrench will no longer be in your hands to be replaced with an electronic tester with benefits.
About The Author
