Sabanto releases first autonomy kit for Kubota M5 tractors

Sabanto has announced the availability of its autonomy kit for Kubota M5 tractors. Sabanto’s system retrofits onto existing machinery, allowing operators to turn tractors they already own into autonomous machines.

This release of the Kubota M5 aftermarket autonomous system marks Sabanto’s first system availability to end users in North America. The company states that systems for additional manufacturers and tractor models will be announced at a later date.

“We are completely disrupting the way the industry views autonomous equipment, and we are bringing in partners who share our vision,” says Craig Rupp, founder and CEO of Sabanto. “We see a future of smaller, smarter, lighter, less expensive and more sustainable swarms of autonomous equipment that will enable users to cover more ground with less.”

Sabanto reports that it has proven, through extensive field testing, its ability to automate a variety of field operations over significant acres. Utilizing a fleet of smaller 60- and 90-horsepower tractors, the company has autonomously tilled, planted, seeded, weeded, applied and mowed across various states, including Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Texas. Its advanced software has been pivotal in deploying multiple systems for multiple days of non-stop operation.

“When auto-guidance was introduced to the market, it enabled farming operations to adopt new ways to complete tasks,” says Matt Hesse, vice president of sales and marketing for Sabanto. “Autonomy will do the same thing – it allows operators to look at new ways to perform their farming operations. Multitasking greatly comes into play here. When the Sabanto system is working on one task, the grower is free to work on additional tasks. When that happens, you double your work capacity.”