Mobile Robot Guide

  • Home
  • News
  • Systems / Platforms
    • Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs)
    • Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs)
    • Autonomous Forklifts
    • Drones / UAVs
    • Other Systems / Platforms
  • Markets / Industries
    • Agriculture
    • Construction & Mining
    • Consumer / Office
    • Defense / Security / Public Safety
    • Education / Research
    • Healthcare / Medical
    • Hospitality / Travel
    • Logistics / Warehouse / Transportation
    • Manufacturing
    • Retail / Wholesale
    • Energy / Utilities
    • Other
  • Applications
    • Move
      • Delivery
      • Intralogistics
    • Perform
      • Disinfecting
      • Telepresence
      • Manipulating
      • Vacuuming
      • Washing
    • Sense
      • Inspection
      • Search
      • Surveillance
      • Surveying
      • Mapping
      • Exploration
    • Other Applications
      • Development
      • Research
  • Resources
    • AMR Glossary
    • FAQ
    • Case Study
    • Find a Vendor
    • What is Robots as a Service
    • Mobile Robot Standards
    • Websites
      • The Robot Report
      • Robotics Business Review
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
    • Webinars and Digital Events
    • Publications
      • Robotic Solutions for COVID-19
    • Newsletter
  • Events
    • 2021 Robotics Weeks
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • RoboBusiness Direct
    • Field Robotics Forum
    • 2022 RBR50 Awards
    • R&D 100
  • Podcast
    • Podcast Archives

Monarch Tractor CEO walks through the latest features in autonomous electric tractor

By Mike Oitzman | March 4, 2022

monarch tractor and trailer at the world ag expo

The Monarch Tractor now includes autonomous control of implements. | Credit: Mobile Robot Guide

Monarch Tractor launched the MK-V, an all-electric, compact format tractor, in December 2020. The company subsequently deployed the first MK-V prototypes at Wente Vineyards in Livermore CA.

The company is busy expanding its production facility and starting to build production units for delivery later in 2022.

We met up with Monarch Tractor co-founder and CEO Praveen Penmetsa at the 2022 World Ag Expo. It was an opportunity to catch up on the last six months for Monarch.

Mobile Robot Guide: So what’s new with Monarch Tractor since our last conversation?

Praveen Penmetsa: Early in 2021, we announced that CNH Industrial (AKA Holland Tractor) came onboard as a minority investor in Monarch Tractor. Then in November 2021, Monarch entered into an exclusive, multi-year licensing agreement for electrification technologies with CNHI.

Basically, now CNHI has access through this license agreement and investment, and we get access to their distribution channels. At the World Ag Expo, we’re showing the Monarch Tractor in the New Holland booth.

With the early customers, we’ve learned a lot about what farmers expect from their equipment. For example, our tractor is rated for 70 HP, but because of the all-electric drive train, it has tremendous torque, more than a similarly rated diesel engine. As a result, some customers are pulling larger loads/implements than we anticipated. Therefore, we’ve had to upgrade the brakes to ensure that we can stop and control the load.

We’ve also upgraded some of our chassis componentry to make them more robust.

monarch tractor at the world ag expo

The Monarch Tractor was on display at the New Holland booth at the World Ag Expo 2022. | Credit: Mobile Robot Guide

What are you doing on the software side of the controls and operation?

On the software side, we have gone through a whole iteration to make the tractor much easier to use. Our goal is to make the existing tractor easy to use and enable a new driver to be up to speed in two to three hours, and safely start using the autonomy in the tractor.

We’ve changed some of the controls, moved the location of the throttle pedal, and improved the overall ergonomics. All of this based on feedback from early customers.

We also upgraded and made some of our electronics components more robust. The screens are now completely sealed to survive the day-to-day rigors of operating in the field.

On the controls and software side, it’s now more controllable, more precise. When even with a driver on the tractor, we can control it down to millimeters of precision. You can move it at a millimeter a second kind of precision.

Also on the safety side and autonomy side, we have deployed a lot of driver safety/ADAS features. For example, a driver can’t intentionally drive into something. The safety controls are always watching the area around the tractor and it will come to an automatic stop if a crash is imminent.  This is valuable for an inexperienced driver, and gives a field supervisor more options for who can operate the equipment.

What autonomy improvements have you made in the last six months?

When we showed you the tractor last year, the autonomy was a “train and repeat” type of autonomous control. Now, the tractor is capable of finding where the row starts by itself, without having to have been trained. The tractor knows where all the row heads are. This allows you to set up a process to goto a specific row head and start an operation. All of this is still in development but we have made a lot of good progress in this.

All of the new features will be available on the production tractors later this year.

The tractor includes a standard ISObus connector to allow communication with smart implements. This is in addition to the standard three point interface on the rear of the tractor.

We’re also expanding the control capabilities of interfacing with smart implements. This enables complete autonomous control of operations with an implement attached to the tractor.

close up of the Monarch Tractor implement controls and hitch

The Monarch Tractor include a standard ISOBus interface in addition to a three point hitch. | Credit: Mobile Robot Guide

Lastly, we now include the working envelope of a trailer or implement into the kinematics of the entire machine. Rear facing cameras onboard the tractor watch the movement of the trailer or implement, while the steering and controls of the tractor takes into account the dimensions of the trailer or implement. This prevents the tractor from driving the implement into or over something that’s not supposed to be there, like a barrel or a post.

monarch tractor and trailer at the world ag expo

The Monarch Tractor identifies the size and shape of implements and trailers to add to the overall kinematics of the tractor. | Credit: Mobile Robot Guide

The onboard cameras can identify the size of the trailer or implement in real-time and make the necessary kinematic changes without the need for any software parameter changes by the operator. This really reduces the need for the operator to be trained in all of the software setup onboard. Again, this is to reduce the overall operator training time and make the system easier to use.

What’s the plan for the rest of this year, going into full production?

We have a bunch of orders queued up already. We’re planning to start shipping production units in Q4, 2022. The other big thing that’s happened since we last talked is our early customers have already been approved for California Air Resource Board grants which means for our tractors are being subsidized to where it’s costing the farmers around $15,000 (after the grant). That makes it cheaper than a diesel tractor and is going a long way to reducing the market barriers for acceptance of this new technology.

This program is still active in California, and we’re working with potential customers to help them get the grant to help pay for the tractor.

You may also like:

  • Monarch Tractor works in a vineyard
    Monarch Tractor closes $61M series B round
  • Monarch Tractor works in a vineyard
    Monarch Tractor deploys tractor at Hopville Farms with help of…
  • Karl Wente receives new Monarch Tractor
    Wente Winery is a trendsetter with robotic tractor deployment

  • Monarch Tractor deploys first production unit at Wente Vineyards

  • Monarch Tractor announces completion of $20M series A funding round
  • monarch tractor on a white background
    Monarch Tractor Secures Additional Funding

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Related Articles Read More >

an aerial view of images of Chris Anker Sørensen painted on soccer pitch
Tour du France tribute to Chris Anker Sørensen painted by robot
Karl Wente receives new Monarch Tractor
Monarch Tractor denied autonomous permit by Cal/OSHA
small robot co robot in a field
Small Robot Company to launch robots at 50 farms
Field Robotics Engineering Forum call for presentations image
Field Robotics Engineering Forum call for speakers open

RBR50 Innovation Awards

The Robot Report Listing Database

THE ROBOT REPORT PODCAST

July 1, 2022
Brian Gerkey from Open Robotics discusses the development of ROS

Recent Articles

  • Brian Gerkey on the success of Open Robotics and ROS
  • an aerial view of images of Chris Anker Sørensen painted on soccer pitch Tour du France tribute to Chris Anker Sørensen painted by robot
  • Anders Beck introduces the UR20; California bans autonomous tractors
  • Karl Wente receives new Monarch Tractor Monarch Tractor denied autonomous permit by Cal/OSHA
  • Melonee Wise Fetch Zebra robots Melonee Wise Joins the TAILOS Board of Directors

Latest Robotics News

Subscribe to the Mobile Robot Guide newsletter

Check out our COVID-19 resources page

Subscribe to the Mobile Robot Guide newsletter

Tweets by RoboticTips

Mobile Robot Guide
  • The Robot Report
  • Robotic Business Review
  • Collaborative Robotics
  • Field Robotics Forum
  • Healthcare Robotics
  • Robo Business
  • Robotics Summit & Expo
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search

  • Home
  • News
  • Systems / Platforms
    • Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs)
    • Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs)
    • Autonomous Forklifts
    • Drones / UAVs
    • Other Systems / Platforms
  • Markets / Industries
    • Agriculture
    • Construction & Mining
    • Consumer / Office
    • Defense / Security / Public Safety
    • Education / Research
    • Healthcare / Medical
    • Hospitality / Travel
    • Logistics / Warehouse / Transportation
    • Manufacturing
    • Retail / Wholesale
    • Energy / Utilities
    • Other
  • Applications
    • Move
      • Delivery
      • Intralogistics
    • Perform
      • Disinfecting
      • Telepresence
      • Manipulating
      • Vacuuming
      • Washing
    • Sense
      • Inspection
      • Search
      • Surveillance
      • Surveying
      • Mapping
      • Exploration
    • Other Applications
      • Development
      • Research
  • Resources
    • AMR Glossary
    • FAQ
    • Case Study
    • Find a Vendor
    • What is Robots as a Service
    • Mobile Robot Standards
    • Websites
      • The Robot Report
      • Robotics Business Review
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
    • Webinars and Digital Events
    • Publications
      • Robotic Solutions for COVID-19
    • Newsletter
  • Events
    • 2021 Robotics Weeks
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • RoboBusiness Direct
    • Field Robotics Forum
    • 2022 RBR50 Awards
    • R&D 100
  • Podcast
    • Podcast Archives