Hundreds Of Self-driving Mercedes Axor Trucks Are Helping To Harvest Sugar Cane In Brazil

No drivers, no problems : Hundreds of self-driving Mercedes Axor trucks are helping to harvest sugar cane in Brazil.

Since 2019, Mercedes-Benz do Brasil and Grunner have configured Axor trucks specifically for automated harvesting operations.

The Axor trucks drive automatically alongside the harvesters at roughly 6 km/h (3.7 mph) while collecting the sugar canes.

By the end of 2022, 640 vehicles would have been delivered to Grunner for modification, 580 of which will be in the hands of customers. 

Hundreds of automated Mercedes-Benz Axor trucks, modified by Brazilian agricultural technology manufacturer, Grunner, are currently been used for harvesting sugar cane in Brazil.

Since 2019, Mercedes-Benz do Brasil has configured Axor trucks specifically for automated harvesting operations as part of a development partnership with Grunner.

This Axor, which looks like the base truck from the outside, is equipped with all the technological components that allows it to independently take over speed and distance control as well as longitudinal and lateral guidance.

The Axor can drive automatically alongside the harvester at roughly 6 km/h (3.7 mph) while collecting the sugar canes. Although the driver retains control of the truck at all times, his hands do not have to be permanently on the steering wheel.

Once filling of the automated Mercedes-Benz Axor truck is complete, the driver takes over the truck again for goods handling, and the whole process repeats itself.

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How does this work in practice?

Before the truck can actively help on the plantation, the harvesting route is determined beforehand on the computer, accurate to the centimeter. The automated journey is controlled via cruise control, GPS and geo-referencing.

On the advantages the automated truck offer the customer, Mercedes says :

“Compared with a conventional tractor unit, significant advantages can be achieved in terms of fuel consumption, lubricant consumption, as well as maintenance and servicing costs.

“Precise preset routing also increases productivity: a vehicle can harvest around twice the amount in the same time thanks to higher average operating speeds.”

By the end of 2022, Mercedes-Benz do Brasil says it would have delivered a total of around 640 vehicles to Grunner for modification, 580 of which will be in the hands of customers.

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