Kubota says its new KATR tractor farm concept raises the bar in independent, zero-emission farming – and it looks like they've convinced others, too. The robot recently won “Best of Innovation” at the CES Innovation Awards.
Designed to follow last year's New Agri Concept autonomous farm tractor, the new Kubota KATR is a first-of-its-kind, compact, four-wheeled robot with a stable cargo deck platform and stability control features that allow it to maneuver. in off-road agricultural and construction sites, even on large hills and slopes.
KATR was selected as the best in the Industrial Equipment and Machinery product category by a panel of industry expert judges, including media, designers, and engineers who reviewed submissions based on innovation, engineering, beauty, and design.
Kubota seems very proud of them – and rightfully so. “We have a longstanding philosophy that our products should be technically sound, productive and pleasing to our customers, and ensure sustainability of limited resources. Ultimately, our goal is to improve the quality of life for individuals and communities,” said Brett McMickell, Chief Technology Officer Kubota North America. “Because of the flexibility of KATR, it has a wide range of applications designed to improve productivity in the agricultural and construction sectors.”
The KATR is designed to be powertrain agnostic – meaning it can be configured with an electric or combustion engine, “showing Kubota's commitment to customer choice without compromise.” As shown, it offers a loading capacity of approx. you are 285lbs. (just under 130 kg) and can be operated remotely or with an internal controller.
The CES Innovation Awards program is hosted and produced by CTA, host and organizer of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), known worldwide for its innovation awards as the most influential technology event on the world stage. CES 2025 is scheduled to run from January 7-10, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada – and, of course, we'll be there (again).
Electrek's Take
Population growth, while slowing down, is still a very big thing going on – and fewer and fewer people seem willing to do the work of growing the food that most people need to eat and live.
Autonomous and remote operation technologies such as those found in Kubota's latest concept tractors are increasing farmers' efforts to do showing up to work every day, and the fact that it's more sustainable from both a fuel standpoint and a chemical standpoint makes it a double winner in my book.
SOURCE | PHOTOS: Kubota, via PR Newswire.
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