The automation of farm machinery is progressing rapidly, and according to Swiss Agricultural Technology, 20% of agricultural machinery will be autonomous within 10 years. But should we really bet everything on new standalone 100% machines? At BuiltronicsWe believe that another route is more appropriate: retrofitting existing equipment.
Automation: a key challenge for agriculture
Faced with the growing challenges facing the agricultural sector - labour shortage, cost optimisation, ecological transition - automation appears to be an unavoidable solution. But a fundamental question remains:
👉 Should current machines be replaced by new, fully autonomous models?
The current trend is to develop autonomous agricultural machines designed from the outset to operate without an operator. However, there are several problems with this approach:
- A high costThis requires heavy investment on the part of farmers.
- A lack of flexibilityThis is because these machines are often single-task, dedicated to a single sector of activity.
- A major ecological impactThis is due to the production of new machines and the premature replacement of equipment that is still operational.
The solution: retrofitting existing farm machinery
At BuiltronicsInstead of investing in a new autonomous agricultural machine, why not automate existing machines with a scalable solution?
1. A more economical solution
The purchase of a stand-alone machine represents a substantial investment, which is often difficult for farmers to recoup. Thanks to retrofitting, it is possible to equip a machine already in service with automation technology.reducing costs while increasing efficiency.
2. A greener choice
Producing a new machine has a high environmental cost: extraction of raw materials, manufacturing, transport, etc. Adapting an existing machine extends its life cycle and optimises its carbon footprint.
3. A model focused on people and flexibility
Some farming tasks require the intervention of an experienced operator. The combination of autonomy and remote operation offers the best of both worlds :
✅ Automation for repetitive or dangerous tasks.
✅ Human intervention for tasks requiring expertise and responsiveness.
iTARS: Swiss technology that transforms your farm machinery
At Builtronicswe have developed iTARSa solution that makes it possible toautomate any agricultural or construction machine. Our technology offers several advantages:
- Installation on existing machineswithout the need to buy new equipment.
- Hybrid modecombining autonomy and remote operation.
- Adaptation to various sectorsfrom agriculture to construction.
👉 Rather than a sharp break towards autonomous 100% machines, we believe in a progressive and reasoned development automation, building on what already exists and integrating the operator in the process.
Towards smarter farm automation
While autonomous agricultural machinery will undoubtedly develop over the coming years, its integration needs to be carefully thought through. Retrofitting, as proposed with our technology iTARSThis will enable a more economical, sustainable transition that is adapted to the realities on the ground.
💬 What do you think of this approach? Would you be prepared to automate your existing fleet rather than invest in a new autonomous farm machine?
📢 Find out how iTARS can optimise your operations: https://builtronics.ch/automatisation-machines-dentretien/
#MautonomousAgriculturalMachine #Automation #Agriculture #Innovation #etrofit #iTARS
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