John Deere Adds Autonomous Towing to Its Manufacturing Operations

TractEasy has announced been it will supply its EZTow autonomous tow-tractor to John Deere globally. TractEasy is a supplier of autonomous towing solutions, particularly for outdoor use, and a joint venture between ground service equipment manufacturer TLD and driverless technology provider EasyMile.

TractEasy was awarded the contract after an initial proof of concept last year where an EZTow moved combine harvester cabs from staging to the assembly line on an exterior route at John Deere Harvester Works in East Moline, Illinois. The vehicle used a range of sensors and cameras with real-time processing to navigate mixed traffic and winter conditions.

According to TractEasy leadership, manufacturing flows that include exterior routes are ripe for automation.

TractEasy focuses on outdoor towing solutions. Its EZTow tow tractor can tow up to 20 tons autonomously using a range of sensors and cameras with real-time processing to navigate complex outdoor environments. It is the most-deployed autonomous tow tractor globally. Since 2018, it has been used for indoor/outdoor operations in Europe, Asia and North America, including a number of major automotive manufacturing plants and logistics centers. It is also in use at major airports around the world for baggage handling and cargo operations.