Belarusian MTZ offers unmanned tractors

The Belarusian mechanical engineering company MTZ plans to offer tractors as part of precision farming systems. The information was released by Andrei Stasilevich, Chief Designer of Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ), at the press conference held on 22 May to mark the 69th anniversary of the company's foundation, BelTA has learned.

Andrei Stasilevich said: “We plan to introduce tractors as part of the precision farming system. It is a system that allows vehicles to work virtually without operators.”

The MTZ Chief Designer explained that the map of the field will be uploaded to the tractor's computer. After that the tractor's operations will be guided by either satellites or ground-based correcting stations. “We already have two tractors like that, with the movement precision of 3-5cm. The precision is sufficient for mowing, sprinkling, and even sowing. We have tested the machines in night and fog conditions. The system performed well,” he stressed.

Speaking about other promising projects, the MTZ Chief Designer said they plan to install remote monitoring systems. The system will allow the company's maintenance division and third-party maintenance services to know where the tractor is, how long it has worked, how much fuel it has spent, and whether it has been properly maintained or not. The system will also register critical parameters such as overload and overheating. “We are working on it,” stressed Andrei Stasilevich.

Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ trademark) was founded in 1946. It is part of the system of enterprises run by the Belarusian Industry Ministry. The company offers over 120 models and modifications of tractors and vehicles with over 200 options for all kinds of climatic and operational conditions. For the last few years MTZ's share of the global market of wheeled tractors has been as large as 8-10%. MTZ operates in over 60 countries and has assembly enterprises in Russia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, China, Romania, Egypt, Serbia, Algeria, Venezuela, and other countries. The industrial group MTZ Holding comprises 11 enterprises.

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