Monarch Tractor produces electric smart tractor — with Nvidia GPU power
The first batch of Monarch Tractor’s MK-V founder series electric, driver-optional, smart tractors have completed production at the company’s Livermore, California manufacturing facility. The MK-V is the world’s first commercially available electric, driver-optional, smart tractor and the company believes it will revolutionize modern farming practices. The combination of sensors, navigation systems and compute power from Nvidia’s Jetson GPU make the tractor a prime example of edge computing’s impact on the future of agriculture.
Monarch Tractor says it was founded in 2018 to empower farmers and enable them to adopt sustainable, regenerative and organic farming practices through technology. According to the company, the Monarch MK-V is a 100% electric, driver-optional tractor with renewable technology. It offers high power output and collects and analyzes crop data for real-time implementation adjustments and long-term yield estimates. Smart device operation allows users to access reports, alerts and data collection/storage for more efficient farm planning.
Monarch says the MK-V founder series will help improve existing farming operations, alleviate labor shortages and increase production yields.
The MK-V is equipped with advanced sensors, navigation systems, and artificial intelligence to ensure consistent operation and safety.
“This is a momentous day for Monarch Tractor that has been years in the making,” said Praveen Penmetsa, the co-founder & CEO of Monarch Tractor. “Our team has worked tirelessly and relentlessly with a mission to make farming more profitable and sustainable.”
Monarch’s first customer, Constellation Brands, purchased the first six Founder Series MK-V tractors. Founded in 1945, Constellation Brands is an international marketer and producer of beer, wine and spirits. After Constellation Brands receives its MK-V tractors, Monarch will ship other tractors to various family farms and large corporations.
“We are pleased to partner with Monarch Tractor as its first customer, accelerating our deep commitment to sustainability while supporting a business driving future-forward innovation in agriculture technology,” said Robert Hanson, the president of Constellation Brands’ wine & spirits division.
According to Monarch, replacing a diesel tractor with the Monarch MK-V can help reduce emissions equivalent to taking 14 passenger vehicles off the road. As over 25% of global emissions are attributed to agriculture, the company says that the zero-emission Monarch Tractor might significantly reduce carbon output.
Monarch Tractor has also caught the attention of investors, raising more than $110M through a $61M Series B round in 2021. Monarch Tractor has also gained notable partnerships worldwide, such as CNH Industrial and VST Tillers Tractors. Monarch Tractor also recently collaborated with Hon Hai Technology Group, aka Foxconn, an electronic manufacturer, to construct the MK-V alongside its battery packs at the Ohio facility.
In 2023, manufacturing will begin at the Foxconn Mahoning Valley Ohio facility, and tractor research and development will remain in California.
Article Topics
computer vision | edge servert | GPU | Monarch Tractor | Nvidia | sensor
Comments