Punjab Agricultural University puts AI in driver’s seat of tractors

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today showcased tractors sans drivers at its research farm, unveiling its Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-based Auto-Steering System. The event marked a major milestone in PAU’s transition from conventional farming to digital and artificial intelligence (AI)-based agriculture.

PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr Satbir Singh Gosal led the proceedings, with senior officials, scientists in attendance. This system is developed by an American company and can be installed on new or old tractor at the cost of Rs 3.5 lakh.

Dr Gosal said, “The auto-steering system is a satellite-guided, computer-assisted tool designed to automate steering during tractor operations. By combining signals from multiple satellite constellations with sensors and a touchscreen control console, the system guides tractors along accurate, predefined paths. It ensures consistent steering even in low-light conditions, reducing fatigue, overlap and missed areas during fieldwork.”

“Key components of the system, include a GNSS receiver for accurate positioning, a wheel angle sensor to track steering movement, and a motorised steering unit. The ISOBUS-compliant console allows advanced features such as auto headland turns, skip-row functionality and custom turn patterns. The operator can switch between manual and automatic modes with a single button,” Dr Gosal said.

While addressing media, Dr Gosal revealed that field data from PAU trials showed the system’s strong performance. With manual steering, field implements like disc harrow, cultivator, rotavator and PAU-Smart Seeder showed overlaps between three to 12 per cent, he said With the auto-steering system, these overlaps dropped to around one per cent. Missed areas reduced from two to seven per cent to under one per cent, Dr Gosal said. “Digital tools like auto-steering not only improve productivity but also lighten the physical burden on farmers.

Dr Rishi Pal Singh, Registrar, PAU, recalled how the university’s innovations recently received national recognition when Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, remotely operated PAU’s sensor-based paddy transplanter during a demonstration in Patiala.

Dr Manjeet Singh, Dean, College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, focused on the university’s remote-controlled two-wheel paddy transplanter. He explained how the machine allows farmers to operate from shaded areas, drastically reducing exposure to heat and humidity during transplantation.