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The Steyr Konzept Tractor Is an Electric Beast With a Companion Drone

Before we’re going to see fully self-driving personal vehicles, we’re most likely to see higher levels of automation in the field of precision farming equipment. The Steyr Konzept tractor is perhaps a good take on this possible future.
Steyr Konzept tractor comes with companion drone for fully autonomous mode 7 photos
Photo: Steyr
Steyr Konzept tractor comes with companion drone for fully autonomous modeSteyr Konzept tractor comes with companion drone for fully autonomous modeSteyr Konzept tractor comes with companion drone for fully autonomous modeSteyr Konzept tractor comes with companion drone for fully autonomous modeSteyr Konzept tractor comes with companion drone for fully autonomous modeSteyr Konzept tractor comes with companion drone for fully autonomous mode
Developed in late 2019 by Steyr, the premium short-liner agricultural brand of CNH Industrial, with partner FPT Industrial, the Steyr Konzept or Steyr Concept is an electric beast of a tractor that has everything from independently operated wheel hub motors, hybrid, modular power drive, and self-driving mode, to enhanced comfort and maximized efficiency. As of the time of press, it still exists only in concept form, and there are no plans to bring it to production.

That said, it highlights the future of precision farming equipment. Earlier this month (January 2021), it was recognized with a 2020 Good Design award for its outstanding design and incorporation of forward-thinking technology. It was the only tractor to be considered for and eventually take home one such award, so yes, it’s safe to say it made a big impression.

Steyr Konzept tractor comes with companion drone for fully autonomous mode
Photo: Steyr
The Steyr Konzept has a modular, hybrid power drive but could also be made in all-electric form. As a PHEV, it has a combustion engine, a generator, and five electric motors packed in a compact design. Which also happens to be very cool-looking. The wheel hub motors run on power from the battery or the generator, depending on needs.

Speaking of which, there are four of them. The four independently operated wheel hub motors with independent wheel suspension allow the tractor to move on all types of terrain, regardless of obstacles, and allow for “unsurpassed handling.” They also allow for a lower center of gravity, which, in turn, improves stability.

To further help with that, Steyr has incorporated e-torque boost into the design, which “supplies additional energy at peak power” whenever needed, like during hill climbing. Other specs include mechanical transmission, hydraulic components in the powertrain, and regenerative braking. Charging is possible via a standard charging socket.

Steyr Konzept tractor comes with companion drone for fully autonomous mode
Photo: Steyr
“In purely electric mode, the Steyr Concept enables zero-emissions driving, in relation to both exhaust emissions and noise pollution,” Steyr says. “Whether for farmers or local authorities, the tractor is the ideal fit for environmentally sensitive areas, such as in urban environments, close to residential areas, in stables or greenhouses. Unlimited availability is a major feature of the Steyr Concept.”

With a design deemed “radical,” this tractor concept also stands out for how smart it is. Never call the Steyr Konzept just a looker.

The cabin has been reinvented completely. It comes with oversize glazed sections and integrated cameras and touchscreens, which render operation a breeze – and with increased comfort, as well. Steyr calls the new type of cabin a “digital farm office,” which may sound strange but is fitting for the kind of stuff the cab does.

There’s a display integrated into the right-side window that offers data and readings, and a head-up display facing the driver, offering key vehicle information. The right-hand display also shows readings from the companion drone mentioned in the headline. In full-autonomous drone, the operator sends out the drone ahead of the tractor and it’s able to send real-time data back to the machine, through crop reading sensors.

This is Steyr’s take on the future of agricultural equipment. It’s awesome looking and smart, highly efficient and reliable, and, if need be, it can do some tasks on its own with help from its trusted, also autonomous friend, the drone.

Steyr Konzept tractor comes with companion drone for fully autonomous mode
Photo: Steyr
“Our ultimate aim, though, was to create striking elements of style that, when combined with the designs of our engineers, also bring practical benefits in areas ranging from performance to visibility to sustainability,” Peter Friis, Steyr Head of Commercial Operations in Europe, says. “Our engineers have been able to re-examine how comfort, efficiency and sustainability can be combined in a tractor, and to show the full potential of technologies under development.”

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About the author: Elena Gorgan
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Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends.
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