A Japanese agricultural machinery manufacturer, Kubota, has developed a driverless tractor, the X Vehicle. The tractor was designed as part of the company’s Agrirobo automated technology program. It contributes to efficiency and productivity without requiring much human intervention on farmlands.
Unveiling the Kubota X vehicle for agriculture
Also known as the X Tractor, the X Vehicle’s concept model was unveiled at the Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai in September. The tractor combines the use of GPS, onboard sensors, such as artificial intelligence, and a guidance system.
These allow the X Vehicle to move independently around regular fields and rice paddies. The AI system allows the vehicle to monitor crop growth and weather conditions. By studying these, it can decide when to perform tasks, including seeding, harvesting, or tilling.
The tractor has no wheels. Instead, it has four Mattracks (crawlers) used for accessing farmlands safely in different conditions. Each crawler has its integrated motor, making it possible to rotate each at different speeds. It also allows a tight turning radius. The height of the X Vehicle can be adjusted. For instance, the height can be reduced when there’s a need for more stability. It can be raised when traveling over taller plants.
How the X vehicle operates for maximum efficiency
The X vehicle operates autonomously through remote monitoring. This reduces the amount of effort agriculture requires, especially in terms of labor. It uses big data and artificial intelligence to determine work time and tasks at hand.
Kubota designed two variations of the X Vehicle in terms of its power source. An initial design was powered by combining lithium-ion battery packs and solar panels. The latest design is powered by compressed hydrogen, and it uses a solid polymer fuel cell type. The output is equivalent to a 100-horsepower diesel engine tractor.
Why compressed hydrogen fits this Japanese vehicle better
Kubota made a great choice by selecting compressed hydrogen to fuel the X Vehicle instead of liquid hydrogen. Powering the tractor with compressed hydrogen gives room for safety, as the tractor is designed to operate under various outdoor conditions, just like the powerful, gasoline-free powertrain invention.
Also, compressed hydrogen can be refilled at high-pressure stations, making it easier to deploy in remote or rural areas where advanced infrastructure may be unavailable. As a fuel cell system, it efficiently uses high-pressure hydrogen gas by converting it directly into electricity for the tractor’s motors. The compressed hydrogen also integrates well with existing fuel cell designs, avoiding energy losses.
When used on farmlands, the X Vehicle will face dust, temperature fluctuations, and vibration. These can be better managed with robust compressed gas tanks. Compressed hydrogen provides enough energy per tank without adding excessive weight or complexity to the tractor.
Kubota’s contribution to climate protection through the X vehicle
Through the compressed hydrogen-powered X Vehicle, Kubota makes a significant contribution to climate protection. Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen.
The byproduct of this is water vapor. This means that there’s no emission of methane, carbon dioxide, or other greenhouse gases during operation. This reduces the tractor’s carbon footprint.
By replacing diesel, the tractor reduces the use of fossil fuels, which contribute largely to carbon emissions in agriculture and transportation. As a fuel cell-powered tractor, it is more energy-efficient than combustion engines. This way, less energy is used, and emissions from fuel production are reduced.
Through the combination of autonomy, electric drive, and compressed hydrogen, the X Vehicle allows farmers to maintain productivity. They can also minimize environmental impact and support more sustainable agriculture goals. This is an innovative development in the agricultural sector. The development shows that technology can transform agriculture and reduce manual labor. It can also improve efficiency and productivity through big data and artificial intelligence, just like this groundbreaking Japan and Egypt mobility innovation beyond EV.
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AloJapan.com