Unmanned technologies in agriculture

Main article: Digitalization in the agro-industrial complex of Russia

Drones in agriculture

Main article: Drones in Agriculture

Chronicle

2024

Growth in sales of autopilots for agricultural machinery by 13% to $17.11 billion

In 2024, costs in the global market for autopilot systems for agricultural machinery reached $17.11 billion. For comparison, a year earlier, the volume of the sector was estimated at $15.14 billion. Thus, growth was recorded at 13%. More than a third of global spending was in the North American region. The relevant data is reflected in a Fortune Business Insights study, the results of which TAdviser reviewed in early September 2025.

Analysts take into consideration autonomous agricultural equipment that works with minimal or no human intervention. These can be tractors, combines, sprayers, seeders, etc. The use of such robotic machines makes it possible to carry out agricultural work with high accuracy, reduce labor costs and increase overall productivity.

Farmers are increasingly adopting self-managed machinery to address issues such as staff shortages, rising operating costs and the need for higher yields, the study said. This trend is particularly pronounced in developed regions such as North America and Europe, where labor costs are high and farms occupy significant areas.

Technological advances, including electrification and the introduction of artificial intelligence, have a stimulating impact on the industry. Neural networks allow autonomous machines to learn from data, as well as optimize operations in real time, adapting to changing environmental conditions. In addition, generative AI can predict the need for equipment maintenance, reducing downtime and ensuring continuous and efficient operation. In turn, developments in the field of electric power plants and batteries make it possible to reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere by abandoning fossil fuels.

The main deterrent is the high costs associated with the purchase of self-piloted agricultural equipment, its maintenance, repair and software update. While self-contained equipment can improve efficiency and yields in the long term, upfront costs can prove prohibitive, especially for small and medium-sized farms operating under tight budgets.

By type of equipment, the market is segmented into tractors, combines, irrigation equipment, seeders, unmanned aerial vehicles, etc. Drones have provided the largest share of revenue, with drones increasingly being used for crop monitoring, soil analysis, field mapping and pesticide spraying, making them an attractive tool for farmers looking to improve efficiency.

Depending on the principle of operation, fully automatic and semi-automatic machines stand out. The second type of equipment dominates, which is explained by its efficiency and ease of integration into existing agricultural processes. Geographically, North America leads with a share of about 34.4%. Globally, the big players are:

• Deere & Company;
• CNH Industrial;
• Raven Industries;
• Monarch Tractor;
• Case IH;
• VitiBot;
• FarmDroid;
• AVL Motion;
• Guardian Agriculture;
• Duana Macchine;
• AGCO Corporation;
• Valtra;
• Lemken;
• AllAgBots Nordic;
• Grimme;
• Jumil S/A;
• Kray Technologies;
• DJI;
• AgEagle;
• Nanovel;
• Kubota;
• Yanmar;
• Guss Automation.

Fortune Business Insights believes that in the future, the CAGR will be 15.8%. As a result, by 2032, costs could increase to $55.32 billion.^[1]

Hundreds of agricultural machines with autopilots left for the fields of Chuvashia

As of the beginning of August 2024, hundreds of agricultural machines equipped with satellite navigation equipment/, GPSGLONASS as well as self-government tools, are operating on the fields of the Chuvash Republic. This is stated in the materials of the Ministry of Agriculture of the region, published on August 5, 2024. More. here

Russian Cognitive Pilot introduced a completely unmanned cab-free tractor

Cognitive Pilot, a subsidiary of Sberbank and Cognitive Technologies, developed and demonstrated in May 2024 a fully autonomous cab-free mini-tractor controlled by artificial intelligence. This is the first unmanned agricultural robot of this kind in Russia, the manufacturer claims. Read more here.

In Moscow, launched the production of autopilots for agricultural machinery

In April 2024, Itelma launched mass production of autopilots for agricultural machinery at its plant in Moscow. New devices can be installed from a tractor, sprayers, combines, etc. Read more here.

2023

Tractors with AI processed more than 2.3 million hectares of land in the first year of use in Russia

On December 12, 2023, Cognitive Pilot announced a summary of the work of tractors equipped with the Cognitive Agro Pilot artificial intelligence (AI) autopilot system in Russia in 2023. In total, more than 2.3 million hectares were processed by smart equipment. Read more here.

How the digitalization of agricultural machinery in Russia helps to fight hogweed

On August 23, 2023, Galileosky announced the introduction of its satellite monitoring terminals in agricultural machinery in the Perm Territory to combat hogweed. In particular, the devices are installed on mowers with tractors for clearing fields. Read more here.

2022

Cognitive Agro Pilot has a navigation module

The company Cognitive Pilot (a subsidiary of Sberbank and), Cognitive Technologies on October 25, 2022, announced the implementation Cognitive Agro Pilot navigation of a module in the system of autonomous management of agricultural machinery satellite , including a receiver and an inertial navigation system. More. here

In the Urals, mass production of autopilots for agricultural machinery began. They increase harvest by 30%

At the end of August 2022, JSC Scientific and Production Association of Automation named after Academician N.A. Semikhatov (part of the state corporation Roscosmos) announced the start of mass production of autopilots for agricultural machinery. According to the developers, the new system installed on a combine, tractor, sprayer, etc., is able to increase harvest by 20-30%. Read more here.

Unmanned combine will work on the fields of the Volgograd region

The unmanned combine will work on the fields of the Volgograd region. This was announced on April 16, 2021 by Cognitive Pilot, which entered into a deal with the agro-industrial company Fermaland LLC. Read more here.

Combine harvesters with Cognitive Agro Pilot harvested 720 thousand tons of crop

Harvesters with artificial intelligence collected 720 thousand tons of crop. Sberbank announced this on November 3, 2020.

The Cognitive Agro Pilot system for autonomous management of agricultural machinery using artificial intelligence, developed by Sberbank and Cognitive Pilot, part of its ecosystem, was used industrially in 35 regions of Russia during the 2020 harvest season. Read more here.

Sberbank and Cognitive Pilot introduce autonomous management of agricultural machinery in the Kaliningrad region

On July 10, 2020, it became known that Sberbank and Cognitive Pilot (Cognitive Robotics) introduced autonomous management of agricultural machinery in the Kaliningrad region. Read more here.

2020

Rostec and the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia will deal with the digitalization of agriculture

On April 17, 2020, the state corporation Rostec reported that, together with the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia, they entered into an agreement on cooperation in the field of introducing digital technologies in the agro-industrial complex. Read more here.

Rostec tested a satellite geodetic system for unmanned agricultural equipment

Holding "Schwabe State Corporation" Rostec conducted tests satellite geodetic equipment to control pilotless agricultural equipment. This was reported on November 6, 2019 TAdviser in Rostec. More. here

2019

Roscosmos presented an unmanned tractor

At the Innoprom-2019 International Industrial Exhibition (July 8-11 ), a presentation of an unmanned tractor developed by the Scientific and Production Association (NPO) of Automation (part of Roscosmos) took place. The tractor does not have a cab, steering wheel and pedals. While driving, it is autonomous, but it can not only move independently, but also determine its location. The route is calculated by a special controller with artificial intelligence, which receives and processes information from the satellite.

Tests of an integrated system for combating hogweed were held in the Moscow region

"A comprehensive system of destroying a poisonous plant using drones took place on the territory of the Naro-Fominsk district. After processing, the territory was in constant monitoring mode to assess the effectiveness of the applied means. As a result, two weeks later, experts agreed that the tests were successful. Herbicides were selected that showed maximum effectiveness even with single processing, "said Andrei Razin, Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Moscow Region.

The integrated system for the destruction of Sosnovsky's hogweed, according to the minister, includes the use of satellite information, shooting using unmanned aerial vehicles and processing infected areas using robotic drones with ultra-solid spraying technology.

"The treatment used targeted drugs, which make it possible to save most of the vegetation, selectively destroying malicious weeds, and reduce the environmental burden. In some areas, it was possible to destroy the hogweed almost completely, "said Andrei Razin.

The technology allows you to identify areas infected with hogweed in real time, determine the weed density, automatically transmit information and lay treatment routes with effective herbicides. Hogweed treatment with herbicides is effective during the period of active weed growth in May-June, and then in early autumn. If necessary, spraying drones can reprocess the remaining weed specimens.

Processing maps with data on the growth density of Sosnovsky hogweed are compiled on the basis of satellite information and surveys from unmanned systems to accurately calculate the number of required agrochemicals and processing intensity. This data is automatically transmitted to the spray drone control system.

In general, according to Andrei Razin, the applied set of technologies allows to save 20-30% of agrochemistry, weed control in hard-to-reach areas, determine zones for additional processing, and also create a soil screen that does not allow weeds to germinate.

After summing up the results of the test in the Naro-Fominsk district, the treatment of areas infected with hogweed with a total area of ​ ​ 50 hectares will be carried out. Mass use of the technology is planned to begin in the Moscow region in 2020.

Tests of the hogweed control system were carried out by specialists from 2050.digital, the All-Russian Institute for Plant Protection, the Roselectronics holding of Rostec State Corporation and the largest Russian manufacturer of plant protection products, August.

Cognitive Technologies will introduce an unmanned driving system in some agricultural facilities of the Tomsk region

On May 13, 2019, Cognitive Technologies, a developer of artificial intelligence systems for unmanned vehicles, announced the signing of agreements on the introduction of unmanned driving systems for agricultural machinery with a number of leading agricultural enterprises in the Tomsk Region. Among them are LLC Agro Tomsk Region, OJSC Agro Tomsk Regional Holding Tomsky, LLC Siberian Milk, SEC Mezheninovsky and others. Read more here.

Roselectronics: Navigation and communication equipment for controlling agricultural machinery

Specialists of the Roselectronics holding made prototypes of navigation and communication elements of onboard and dispatch equipment for the unmanned agricultural equipment control system. The work is carried out by the Moscow Research Institute of Microelectronic Equipment "Progress" in the interests of the Rostselmash group of companies.

Cognitive Technologies has field tested an unmanned combine =

On August 15, Cognitive Technologies announced the first field tests of the combine in unmanned mode. The work was carried out in the Rostov region together with the company's partner - Rostselmash. An experimental example of the RSM 181 TORUM combine was equipped with the Cognitive Agro Pilot automatic driving system.

2017

Program "Ural Cognitive Agro"

The Ural Federal University (UrFU) and the Cognitive Technologies group of companies (developing artificial intelligence (AI) systems and unmanned vehicles) launched the Ural Cognitive Agro program in the summer of 2017. The program is international, it will be implemented in Brazil and Argentina. According to the plans of the parties, Ural Cognitive Agro will attract up to 3 billion rubles, RIA Novosti reports . About 800 million of this amount are partners' own money. The program will last until 2022^[2]

Information on Russian developers of unmanned systems for agriculture

Drones are developing in the industry agriculture and in our country, even despite not very favorable regulatory regulation. Among the most active market participants are such players as Unmanned Technologies (g.), Novosibirsk Geoscan (g.), St. Petersburg Autonomous Aerospace Systems - GeoService (g.) and [ Krasnoyarsk Zala Aero]] (g.). Izhevsk The range of services provided by these companies for agriculture is quite large. For example, the Geoskan company offers agricultural producers the following services:

• Inventory of farmland, creation of electronic field maps and cadastre
• Monitoring of equipment, condition of crops and fields under pairs, calculation of NDVI and other indices
• Support and control of agrotechnical measures

AI system for unmanned combine harvester

Cognitive Technologies announced in April 2017 computer vision technology for automatic driving of a combine harvester.

"It is assumed that our system will first be installed on an experimental sample of agricultural machinery," said Olga Uskova, President of Cognitive Technologies. - We spent more than three years on its development and got excellent results. Having the function of automatic taxiing during harvesting, Russian combines will be able to compete on equal terms with world agricultural brands that already have similar functionality. "

Tests of Russia's first unmanned tractor

In mid-September 2016, a series of tests of the Agro Tomsk OblastBot unmanned tractor began at one of the agricultural complexes of the Ryazan region. Over the next year, the company expects to conduct a series of test implementations of AgroBot and work out the main operations in unmanned mode through the use of battery life scenarios.

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