The Monarch is a new type of tractor that’s both electric and autonomous. Developed by the namesake California-based company Monarch, the tractor is powered by a 55kW peak-rated motor and offers two times the torque of a similarly powerful diesel tractor. 

What really set the Monarch apart from traditional farming vehicles, though, is the ability to be controlled in a fully remote fashion, basically like a big Roomba. Farmers can program jobs in the fields based on geo-fencing, while several sensors and cameras ensure that the tractor can avoid collisions and rolls.

The Monarch is also capable of sampling data from the fields while it operates, thus giving farmers a powerful tool not only to simplify and streamline their work but also to obtain better yields thanks to finer control over the crops’ health. A single Monarch tractor will sell for 50.000 dollars, with the option of operating more than one as a remote-controlled fleet. The company says hundreds of farms are already sold on the idea and are waiting for their pre-orders to be delivered, starting in fall 2021.