Every inch counts: why satellite positioning and autonomy are the pillars of tomorrow's agriculture

The search for more productivity has guided the development of technology for agriculture for years. From creating more resistant cultivars to improving harvesting and storage processes, thousands of minds work around the world to harvest more in less space and save resources, ensuring the lowest possible impact on the environment.

In Brazil, for example, one of the most important countries in the world in food production, productivity grew 400% between 1975 and 2020, according to a survey by the Institute for Applied Economic Research (Ipea). This same study highlighted the role of technology in this advancement, highlighting the relevance of innovative solutions in contemporary agriculture.

According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the estimate for 2024 is 306,5 million tons of grain harvest. The slight drop compared to 2023 was to be expected, but even so, we will have a large harvest in the Brazilian harvest of cereals, legumes and oilseeds, which will be guided, essentially, by technology.

When we imagine a machine operating in the field, we generally don't stop to think about the number of different solutions that make it up. Some of the most important are positioning technologies: antennas and receivers that capture and process satellite signals, allowing precision in operation lines to be maintained.

Furthermore, signal correction mechanisms have proven to be fundamental in making centimeter-level positioning possible in modern agriculture. The machines' ability to operate with geographic precision of a few centimeters provides significant benefits such as reducing overflow, in addition to allowing the precise application of inputs, such as fertilizers and agricultural pesticides, reducing waste and optimizing the use of these resources.

High-precision positioning methods, such as PPP (Precise Point Positioning) also help to correct errors caused by ionospheric scintillation, a phenomenon that interferes with the intensity of radiofrequency signals, affecting the performance of location systems. We are currently experiencing a peak in these solar flares, which has caused headaches for those who depend on precision agriculture.

In addition to positioning, autonomy, which is taking its first steps in the sector, also has the potential to become a key element in increasing productivity. Autonomous solutions, from robotic devices for agrochemical applications to vehicles with increasingly greater autonomy in their operation, have already begun to revolutionize agriculture. At Hexagon | NovAtel, investment in research and development for autonomous vehicles has been an important part of our strategy and is among the company's main goals for the coming years.

Combined with positioning solutions, the incorporation of autonomy in agriculture not only meets the growing demand for efficiency, but also offers an innovative approach to address contemporary challenges, such as labor shortages. Before full autonomy, however, technologies are already beginning to help with the efficiency of operations, assisting operators with repetitive tasks, warning about anomalies that are not always identified with the naked eye. These functions can help with operator safety and reduce fatigue during your work shift. By promoting more sustainable and efficient agricultural practices, this convergence of technologies contributes to establishing a crucial balance between productivity and environmental preservation, ensuring that the agriculture of the future is not only productive, but also environmentally conscious and socially responsible.

By Bernardo de Castro, VP of agricultural strategy for Hexagon’s “Autonomy and Positioning” division