Driverless tractor exhibited at Innoprom 2022 fair in Yekaterinburg, Russia

KFU’s partner in the project is TPK MTZ-Tatarstan.

The tractor, currently called KFU-MTZ-112, is jointly developed by Center for Special Robotics and AI of KFU and TPR MTZ-Tatarstan LLC. The model is an automated variant of Belarus 112N-01 model. The tractor is purposed for open territories, such as fields, farms, and large industrial sites.

The tractor has four steering modes: manual, distance, strategic, and tactical. In the distance regime, the operator can remotely run the machine through an app. In the strategic mode, the tractor is only given a general route to cover. In the tactical mode, a specific task is given, such as transporting a cargo to a certain point. The automation system makes its own decisions based on its analysis of the surroundings. All four modes were partially demonstrated during the expo.

In the process of implementing the mock-up sample of the project, work was carried out both on technical equipment and on software: mock-up versions of automated piloting systems and a vision system were developed; by installing a parallel driving service unit, the steering was modernized while maintaining control from the standard steering wheel; by installing an electric motor with a connection to the rear axle differential, the tractor’s electric traction is implemented; remote control and technical vision subsystems, power supply system providing power supply to the service unit of parallel driving and subsystems of control and technical vision were installed.

The driverless system has already piqued interest of a number of companies, and negotiations are underway.