John Deere has introduced its new autonomy kit, transforming high-horsepower row crop tractors into autonomous machines. Unveiled at CES in Las Vegas, the kit features a 16-camera system that enables tillage autonomy, available for limited release in 2026. The retrofittable approach allows farmers to integrate the system into existing tractors, minimizing upfront costs. Jahmy Hindman, John Deere’s CTO, highlighted that autonomy addresses the growing demand for efficient agriculture and solves labor shortages, which affect farms nationwide.

Michael Stenzel, an Iowa farmer, uses the system on his 9 Series Tractor to automate tillage operations. The cameras and AI-powered computer system allow the tractor to navigate fields autonomously, with minimal human intervention. If the machine encounters an unrecognized obstacle, it stops and alerts John Deere specialists.

The autonomy kit works with 2017-and-newer John Deere implements, with plans to expand capabilities to more tasks by 2030. In addition, Deere is working on autonomy solutions for specialty crops, including orchard tractors, enhancing the farming process by reducing labor needs.