Fendt introduces the Xaver GT, an autonomous field robot concept, designed to meet the rising demand for automated, labor-saving solutions in crop production. The Xaver GT is particularly designed for mechanical weed-control on vegetable – and row-crop farms.
The concept study revives and modernizes the company’s historic implement-carrier tractor, the Fendt GT, which in 1957 pioneered the “one-man system” that enabled farmers to mount implements quickly and combine multiple tasks. The new Xaver GT transforms this legacy into a fully unmanned platform aimed at performing repetitive, time-intensive operations with high precision.
Weighing only three tons and distributing that weight evenly through its mid-mount implement design, the Xaver GT minimizes soil compaction, a significant benefit for operations requiring multiple passes. Its balanced axle load also ensures reliable work in wet fields, where heavier machinery may damage soil structure or become immobilized. By aligning with modern sustainability goals and rising expectations for reduced use of crop protection, the robot facilitates mechanical weed control in both organic and conventional systems.
Engineered as a flexible system carrier, the Xaver GT features both mid- and rear-mounting positions equipped with 2-ton lifting capacities. A sliding mid-mount power lift enables high-precision tasks such as inter-row hoeing. The adjustable track widths, ranging from 1.5 to 2.25 meters, suit most European and international crop systems, while 50 cm of ground clearance allows operations later in the growing season. With its 3.4 m wheelbase and autonomous capability, the machine can complement conventional tractors: while tractors handle heavy soil cultivation or harvesting, the Xaver GT can autonomously perform sowing, hoeing, harrowing and other repetitive crop-care tasks.
Easy road travel
For road travel, the Xaver GT switches into a “transport mode,” effectively becoming a trailer towed by a tractor. Upon arriving at the field, one operator can position the robot via remote control and activate the working mode.
The powertrain consists of a serial hybrid system with a 25 kW diesel-powered generator and two buffer batteries, including a 9 kWh battery for short power boosts. Four independently steerable electric wheel motors enable precise navigation at field speeds up to 10 km/h. Multiple steering modes, including Ackermann, four-wheel, and a combined crab/four-wheel “superimposition mode”, improve maneuverability on headlands and enhance stability on slopes.
Safety and perception are central to the robot’s design. A dual-level system integrates geofencing, status monitoring, and an advanced sensor array using lidar and cameras to detect obstacles early and trigger automatic avoidance. The machine runs on the FendtONE interface, offering remote access via smartphone, tablet or PC. It also incorporates AI-driven vision systems for plant, row and tramline recognition, ensuring precise guidance even in areas with poor satellite reception. To further enhance row detection and implement control, Fendt collaborated with PTx to develop RowPilot, which stabilizes hoeing performance under challenging field conditions such as wind, slopes or uneven terrain.
