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It was just this July that Japan's Yanmar Agri Corporation unveiled a line of driverless agricultural tractors. Now, as part of the same Smartpilot system, the company has announced an autonomous rice seedling-transplanter.
Known as the YR8D, A, the new diesel-powered vehicle is wirelessly programmed/monitored via an included waterproof 10.1-inch tablet. It can operate in either of two modes, depending on rice paddy conditions and other factors.
In Linear Mode, it automatically moves in straight lines through the paddy, with an onboard driver manually steering the vehicle through the turn-arounds at the end of each row. In Auto Mode, it's able to remain completely driverless, handling the turns on its own. Additionally, its seedling-planting mechanism automatically moves up and down in response to the level of the terrain.
Just in time to solve the labor shortage in rice production.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 22 2018, @10:07AM (2 children)
This is why the previous generations didn't make so many kids. They were too busy making plans to feed the kids, there was no time left over for baby making.
Hope you millenials enjoy your labor-free rice!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 22 2018, @01:52PM
Welcome to the rice fields, motherfucker.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 22 2018, @05:53PM
The number of private farmer opportunities just aren't that large anymore, and unless you get really lucky with a tech or skilled labor job you aren't financially going to be in a position to buy a farm while you are young enough to actually work it. And even if you do, you need to start popping out kids to take over farming it as soon as possible. Any kids before you got there will probably be yuppies after all, and half or 3/4 may return to the yuppie lifestyle when they grow up.