The future of farming

McKinsey & Company reports that fully autonomous orchards and vineyards in the US, “can deliver more than $400 per acre per year in value, doubling to quadrupling returns on farmers’ investment in automation.” Autonomous machinery promises increased efficiency and productivity. However, this shift also presents new challenges for component manufacturers — particularly those involved in the design and performance of bearings. Here, Chris Johnson, managing director of bearing specialist SMB Bearings, discusses the unique demands autonomous agricultural equipment places on bearings.

Autonomous agricultural machinery has rapidly evolved from a futuristic concept to a tangible reality. According to the World Economic Forum, agricultural drones, autonomous tractors, and seed-planting robots are some of the innovations that could be crucial for future food supplies. These machines offer several benefits, including increased operational efficiency and higher crop yields, which can lead to a reduced environmental impact.

For instance, drones can monitor crop health and apply water and pesticides in precise amounts to avoid hefty input costs. Self-driving tractors can operate both during the day and night, planting and harvesting with pinpoint accuracy. And seed-planting robots can ensure that each seed is planted at the optimal depth and spacing, for maximum growth potential.

Agriculture has reached a point where farms have consistently adopted these technologies to improve their operations. Recently, this trend has expanded to include digital tools. According to a survey by McKinsey & Company, 21 per cent of farmers in Asia, Europe, North America and South America use farm management software. Although less than five per cent of respondents currently utilise fully automated technology, this figure is expected to increase.

Demands on bearings in autonomous machinery

Bearings are essential for smooth and efficient motion in machinery. In the context of autonomous agricultural equipment, bearings have to meet specific and heightened demands. Three primary challenges stand out for engineers: the need for higher precision; enhanced durability; and minimal maintenance.

Put simply, autonomous agricultural machinery relies on precise movements to function correctly — whether it's a drone making minute adjustments in flight or a self-driving tractor navigating a field. Bearings must be precision engineered to support accuracy and efficiency of these operations. They must be engineered to support exact positioning and smooth rotation, ensuring all components work in harmony and execute tasks with accuracy.

Enhanced durability

Agricultural environments are notoriously harsh, with weather alone taking its toll on equipment throughout the year. Farm equipment is exposed to dust, dirt, moisture and varying temperature; and bearings are among the precision components in this machinery that must withstand these conditions without compromising performance.

Bearings with enhanced durability are essential in these applications. They must endure long operating hours and rough terrains and maintain their integrity and functionality over extended periods. To this end, selecting the right bearing means choosing the right material.

If inappropriate bearing material is used, it can lead to premature failure, increased maintenance costs and operational inefficiencies. For instance, steel bearings are prone to rust in moist conditions, leading to increased friction and the potential failure of moving parts. Such issues can halt operations and necessitate costly repairs.

Ceramic and hybrid bearings are specifically designed to withstand harsh agricultural environments and support longevity and efficiency in, for example, autonomous planters or seeders. Meanwhile, deep groove ball bearings are primarily used for radial loads in equipment like harvesting machines, but can handle smaller axial loads from both directions and perform well in high-speed operations. However, contamination in the bearing by dust, dirt and water can dramatically reduce its service life.

Instead, sealed deep groove ball bearings?are an effective solution. They’re easy to maintain as the robust sealed design means they never require relubrication, which makes sealed bearings a dependable choice for these types of applications.

Labour challenges and opportunities

One of the key advantages of autonomous machinery is the reduction in manual labour, in agribusiness, a shortfall of labour can lead to disaster. Take UK farmers for instance who, in 2022, witnessed ￡60 million worth of food spoil in fields because of staffing shortages.

Farmworkers are also at higher risk for injuries, ranking highly for fatal occupational injuries both in the US and Europe. In fact, the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE)’s ?work-related fatality figures for 2022/23 reveal that 27 people had fatal injuries as a result of farming and other agricultural-related activities during the year. This is the worst rate of fatal injuries across all the main industrial sectors.

Fortunately, automation emerges as a solution. New technologies can enhance working conditions by tackling mundane, hazardous, and labour-intensive tasks. From semi-autonomous solutions to fully automated robots, technology can minimise barriers to entry for new workers and reduce the need for training in more complex, manual tasks.

Put simply, a streamlined and automated approach allows farms to operate with fewer employees while ensuring higher wages and increased productivity for existing staff. These advancements are not about replacing human labour but improving the capabilities of farming operations. Autonomous machinery can perform tasks with a level of precision and consistency that is difficult for human workers to achieve, leading to better resource management and higher safety and productivity.

Nevertheless, while the benefits of automated agriculture are clear, these advancements will place additional demands on precision components, like bearings.

Lubrication maintenance

Bearings in these machines must be designed to require minimal maintenance. This involves using advanced materials and lubrication technologies that prolong the lifespan of bearings and reduce the need for frequent servicing. Bearings that can perform reliably with little to no maintenance are crucial for the uninterrupted operation of autonomous machinery.

Innovative lubrication systems are reducing the maintenance requirements of bearings. Highly water-resistant lubricants, for example, can be specified for bearings used in very wet conditions and provide continuous lubrication throughout the bearing's life.

Reliable precision bearings play an essential role in the efficiency of autonomous agricultural machinery. The precision required in autonomous equipment — be it drones, tractors or robotics — depends on the reliable performance of precise bearings that support smooth and accurate movements. What’s more, a resilient bearing material ensures that machinery can continue to operate effectively despite exposure to dust, dirt, moisture and varying temperatures, complementing farmers’ investment in automation.

For more information on SMB Bearings’ full ceramic bearings and other bearings suitable for use in autonomous agricultural machinery, visit its website.