John Deere Electronics makes its advanced Vision Processing Unit available to the European market
John Deere Electronics says it is making its advanced Vision Processing Unit (VPU) available to European machine builders and OEMs. Companies it says “can now integrate sophisticated, field-tested vision-based autonomy hardware into next-generation mobile machinery for precise, real-time decision-making in the field.”
Computer vision and machine learning (CVML) needs high-compute solutions to analyse surroundings and respond quickly. The John Deere VPU enables equipment to respond instantly, without relying on cloud-based processing.
Developed to meet the demands of real-world outdoor applications, the robust VPU evolved from John Deere’s work in the agricultural space and is designed specifically for use in harsh and demanding environments. Previously exclusive to John Deere’s See & Spray technology, it has accumulated many hours of real-world testing in the field and is now available to OEMs for use in a range of on and off-highway mobile machinery applications.
The John Deere VPU platform is ideal for autonomous navigation, situational awareness, and obstacle avoidance, delivering safety, efficiency and productivity in the field. Its high GPU- and high CPU-capable architecture handles multiple high-resolution camera inputs simultaneously, consolidating large volumes of visual data on machine in real-time. Interfacing through standard protocols, including CAN and Ethernet, it enables advanced algorithms and machine learning models to assess conditions and trigger automated actions as equipment is in operation. John Deere Electronics has also developed its own gigabit Ethernet switch to provide fast and seamless switching between cameras.
Crucially, the VPU has been engineered specifically for harsh, outdoor environments, an area where many conventional vision computing systems fall short. With an IP67-rated enclosure, it is built to withstand extreme temperatures, vibration, and ingress from dust or moisture. John Deere has also developed an innovative air-cooled design for the unit that eliminates the need for liquid cooling or internal fans to reduce cost, complexity and maintenance.
The VPU’s powerful 1 TB solid state NVMe drive and Nvidia core processor provide real-time image and video processing. It is equipped with Linux OS, 12 camera connections with power over coax (PoC), 4 CAN ports, 2 digital inputs, and 3 digital outputs.
Originally developed for use in John Deere’s See & Spray
technology to distinguish in real-time between crops and weeds during spraying, the system is a proven, scalable platform. It operates in conjunction with boom-mounted cameras and machine learning to enable precise, selective spraying, helping to reduce input costs and improve operational efficiency.
John Deere Electronics is now making this technology available to European OEMs, providing a robust hardware platform that can be integrated into a wide range of automated and semi-autonomous machines. From construction, mining, robotics and material handling to on-highway and specialty vehicles, forestry and industrial applications, the flexibility of the VPU enables OEMs to tailor solutions to their specific use cases.
OEMs are able to select the right balance of compute power and cost. The VPU is available in multiple configurations, ranging from high-performance systems capable of processing and switching quickly between multiple cameras, to more compact versions suited to simpler applications.
Kerry Koisti, who works in Business Development at John Deere Electronics, says: “What we usually do at John Deere is look at the marketplace for solutions and if we don’t find one that works for what we want to do, our electronics unit designs and builds the product we need. Once it’s in production, we consider offering it to other OEMs as hardware, providing tried and tested technology with John Deere quality and robustness, and enabling innovation in new applications. As autonomy continues to evolve, on-board computing for real-time perception, navigation and decision-making is likely to play a much greater role.”
Koisti adds: “The VPU is really rugged and has been developed to solve a real-world challenge. The flexibility of the system is pretty incredible in terms of types of problems it can solve and it builds on decades of knowledge and experience in outdoor mobile machinery. We believe lots of European companies could benefit from this technology. The VPU enables real-time decision-making in the field and we provide expert guidance to ensure smooth integration with their systems.”
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