First Monarch Electric Autonomous Tractor Lands in the Midwest

California is already seeing electric autonomous tractors at work, but until this month, the Monarch tractor hadn’t ventured east. That all changed earlier this month when the University of Missouri became the first college to land a Monarch tractor, which marks the first of its kind in the Midwest.

“This is the first one at a university, and it's also one of the first ones, if not the first one, outside of the state of California,” says Dan Downing, who works on Ag Engineering extension programs at the University of Missouri.

The first thing you notice about the tractor is how small it is, but once you start watching the tractor work, you realize how quiet it is. However, Downing says don’t underestimate its size or power.

“It's about a 40-hp tractor, weighs about 5,000 lb., but one of the sleepers is that it performs a little bit better than you would think of a 40-hp internal combustion engine because the torque from the electric motors,” Downing says. “It is instantaneous torque.”

The other impressive piece, to Downing, is how the Monarch tractor is loaded with software and technology at the top of the tractor.

“One of the major things is the data acquisition and data management side of it. The top piece, the canopy of this tractor, is loaded with computer technology. And it has sensors in it to detect everything from wind speed to temperature to ground speed, I believe tire slippage, battery optimization, all those kinds of things are potential that can be done with this,” he says.

Driving Research, Teaching and Extension into the Future 

The goal is to use the equipment for research, teaching and extension. And as professors and Mizzou extension gathered outside to watch the equipment at work, it was clear there’s excitement surrounding the Monarch tractor as it will also be used as a teaching tool to drive Mizzou's program into the future.

“From a teaching perspective, to use the tractor in classes as showing modern, up-to-date, cutting edge, sensory technology and integration with precision ag implements,” Downing says. “There’s even some movement also towards some of the major equipment distributors in the Midwest. They are looking at similar technologies or about potentially working with this company on some of it.”

The electric monarch tractor is on the smaller side, so Downing knows it may not be a fit for larger row crop farms. But considering the machine can also run autonomously, he says it’s a potential game changer for specialty crop and smaller livestock operations. Through his extension work, his goal is to see how the new technology can work on different operations.

“One of the programs I work with is the sustainable ag research and education program, which kind of caters to small farmers, beginning farmers and vegetable and fruit production. And these tractors coming out of California, that's where they're mainly being implemented right now,” he adds. “So, there's a direct application there. And for the folks that are in organic production, with this tractor, there isn't pumping out any hydrocarbon emissions as they go through their organic operation. So that's a big plus on that.”

He says also from an extension standpoint, he thinks it will be a great way to create awareness of the sensory technology and how it’s evolving.

“We think of the drones and drone use coming into play, and the data collection when you do field mapping and yield mapping,” says Downing. “All that can be advanced with this tractor. Another piece, just creating the awareness of the evolution of electronic tractors for our crop producers and our farmers out there. The manufacturers are working on some smaller implements, such as a blade to go on the front of it, and some other devices where it has potential application for use in livestock operations, and even indoor operations with no emissions. You can operate it inside of a closed building without having to worry about that.”

Manual or Autonomous Applications 

Downing says with the cutting-edge technology equipped on the Monarch tractor, the fourth generation all electric, with autonomous capabilities, but it could also be a great option for someone who’s disabled.

“A disabled person could be potentially able to operate this tractor remotely, or with the joystick operation if they have some mobility,” Downing says. “It can even be driven off a joystick or driven conventionally using hand and foot controls.”

As Mizzou begins to uncover the various applications of the new Monarch tractor, it’s a possible glimpse into the future for farms where it’s the right fit.