John Deere and GUSS Automation have added an electric version of an autonomous herbicide orchard sprayer.
GUSS, which stands for Global Unmanned Spray System, was originally developed by Crinklaw Farm Services, a company that provides contract farm services. John Deere formed a joint partnership with GUSS Automation in 2022.
“This launch with GUSS Automation reaffirms our commitment to helping high-value crop growers meet their needs through innovative solutions like electrification and autonomy,” Sean Sundberg, John Deere business integration manager, said in a news release. “The all-new electric GUSS will provide farmers with reliable and powerful performance, with added benefits to help increase productivity and profitability.”
The GUSS sprayer is 23 feet by 6 inches and is 6 foot 4 inches tall. It features an operational width of 8 feet, 4 inches to 19 feet wide, according to the release. Hydraulic-controlled height-adjustable spray booms accommodate 18- to 22-foot row spacing and can be tilted upward for berm spraying. GUSS design also incorporates breakaway booms to prevent damage, the release said.
The companies said the new machine includes spot-spraying weed detection that can detect chlorophyll in weeds and only spray when detected. John Deere estimates this new technology reduces inputs by up to 90% and reduces drift.
Kriesel batteries power the electric GUSS, which the company says can spray for a full shift when fully charged. Other features include GPS, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) proprietary technology for accurate coverage, according to the release. The company also said GUSS boasts safety features such as automatic pausing when it detects hazards or people nearby.
The company said one employee can operate and monitor up to eight GUSS machines using a laptop computer.
“We have been asked countless times about making GUSS electric,” Gary Thompson, chief operating officer of GUSS Automation, said in the release. “An electric herbicide sprayer made the most sense to us, given that the battery life can last an entire shift while performing this critical orchard task.”
The companies said growers who purchase its orchard GUSS and mini GUSS autonomous sprayers can add Smart Apply Intelligent Spray Control System, which delivers precision application, precision data and analytics. This technology senses the presence of trees and vines to automatically adjust spray volume based on tree size and foliage density, according to the release. John Deere said this technology could save growers up to 50% in chemicals and water use.