Sometimes the world of technology gives us beautiful surprises. For example, when a space rocket company reaches an agreement with another company that specializes in tractors. But, as you will see now, it makes a lot of sense.
SpaceX is collaborating with agricultural industry giant John Deere to provide satellite internet connectivity, enabling their tractors to operate autonomously and communicate with each other in rural areas.
The unlikely couple announced on Tuesday an agreement to provide satellite internet to farmers, helping them connect new and existing machinery through SpaceX’s Starlink network.
Space satellites and tractors united under the same cause
In the tweet you have above these lines, SpaceX wrote: “Starlink is ideal for rural areas”. The company is committed to providing Internet access to areas beyond its reach, whether by land, sea or air.
Through other partnerships, SpaceX is working with European satellite operator SES to connect cruise ships, as well as with major airlines like Hawaiian Airlines and Qatar Airways to provide Wi-Fi on airplanes.
This way we connect the sea, we connect the air and now we connect the land, everything is planned, Elon Musk. Although broadband connectivity and mobile phone infrastructure have been expanding in rural areas, not all farmers have easy access to the Internet.
John Deere will use reinforced user terminals, which will be installed in compatible tractors, along with a JDLink 4G LTE modem to connect to the John Deere Operations Center.
By putting these tractors in line, the company will be able to make them work autonomously, share real-time data, send remote diagnostics and enable improved self-repair solutions, as well as communication between machines, according to John Deere.
The company already has self-driving tractors that can perform some tasks on their own, but adding online connectivity to agricultural machinery will allow farmers to monitor it in real time and send orders if necessary.
“The value of connectivity for farmers goes beyond any task or action. Connectivity opens up huge opportunities that were previously limited or unavailable,” said Aaron Wetzel, Vice President of Production and Precision Agriculture Production Systems at John Deere, in a statement. “For example, throughout the year, farmers must complete tasks within extremely short time windows.”
This involves precise steps in production, getting the machines to work together, and keeping an eye on how they are doing, said Wetzel, adding that with better connectivity, all these parts get a boost, making the whole operation smoother, more effective, and more profitable.
A report from the 2019 United States Department of Agriculture highlighted the importance of achieving connectivity in rural areas of the United States in order to adopt next-generation precision agriculture tools that have the potential to boost production. On the other hand, modern agricultural tools can have a negative impact on the environment and potentially lead to the disappearance of smaller farms.
John Deere, one of the giants in the agricultural machinery sector, has been searching for a partner in the space industry over the past year. The company has found its match in the giant SpaceX, a perfect combination for commercialization.
The partnership with SpaceX will begin deploying Internet connectivity during the second half of 2024, according to the statement.
