Agricultural Humanoids · Part of The Humanoid Group
Farm Robotics News, October 2026
Autonomous tractors, laser weeders, harvest robots and milking systems each gained products or proof in 2026. Here are the numbers and dated updates worth knowing before the next buying season.
Fendt offers autonomous grain-cart and tillage kits for its 900 and 1000 Vario tractors
· Deployment
Fendt introduced PTx OutRun retrofit packages that give its 900 and 1000 Vario tractors Level 4 monitored autonomy. OutRun Grain Cart handles hauling at harvest, and OutRun Tillage has been available since July 2026. The kits are offered in North America, Australia and South America.
Why it matters: Autonomy is arriving as bolt-on kits for tractors farms already own, which lowers the entry cost. Check which regions and models are covered, and who supports the kit, before planning a season around it.
FarmDroid opens orders for the FD60 seeding and weeding robot, with deliveries from 2027
· Launch
FarmDroid began taking orders on September 1 for the FD60, an autonomous robot that seeds and mechanically weeds row crops without herbicides. It covers up to 18 hectares a day at a working width up to 6.75 meters, roughly three times the smaller FD20. First deliveries are expected from January 2027.
Why it matters: Larger robots push mechanical weeding from market gardens toward arable acreage. With delivery in January 2027, winter is the time to confirm field layouts, satellite signal coverage and who will service the machine.
Versatile RobotX raises over £1 million for crop-harvesting robots after UK grower trials
· Funding
Versatile RobotX, a University of Essex spinout, secured over £1 million in blended funding: equity from the British Design Fund plus grants from Innovate UK and the Defra Farming Innovation Programme. Its harvesting robots have finished pilot trials with UK growers, and the money funds manufacturing preparation, wider crop trials and a robots-as-a-service model.
Why it matters: Harvest robots are still reaching growers through trials and service contracts rather than outright sales. A scoped pilot with agreed success measures, such as THG's Pilot program, shows what a machine does on your own crop first.
Kubota plans unmanned Agri Robo tractors for Japan from April 2027
· Launch
Kubota announced its Agri Robo Tractor MR series, which it calls the first domestically made tractors able to work unmanned under remote monitoring. Two unmanned models of 100 and 105 horsepower and three manned models go on sale in Japan only in April 2027, with five AI cameras and five radars watching for people.
Why it matters: Safety sensing and remote supervision are becoming part of the core specification, not extras. When comparing autonomous machines, ask how people and obstacles are detected and what the machine does if the cellular link drops.
FAA launches a fast-track enforcement program for drone violations, including on farms
· Policy
On April 15 the FAA launched DETER, a program meant to resolve drone violations faster than the months or years cases used to take. It covers Part 107 scouting and mapping flights and Part 137 spray operations. First-time operators with minor issues may get quicker outcomes if they admit liability and waive appeal.
Why it matters: Spray and scouting drones are easy to buy, and enforcement is getting faster. Confirm remote ID, registration and pilot certification before the season starts, and keep a record of every flight.
Lely passes €1 billion in annual revenue as dairy farms keep investing in robots
· Market
Dairy robotics maker Lely reported revenue above €1 billion for 2025, an 18% rise that it ties to higher global milk prices. It launched four products, Vector Next, Astronaut A5 Next, Astronaut Max and Hub, and warned that 2026 could bring headwinds from lower milk prices, geopolitics and chip supply.
Why it matters: Robot demand follows milk prices, and Lely itself names softer prices and chip supply as 2026 risks. Agree delivery slots and service cover early; THG Care support plans put a named success manager on the account.