After presenting autonomous open-field tractors in recent years that could also be operated in the traditional way, with New Holland R4 the company has recently turned its attention to machines designed for specialized farming environments, approaching automation through true robotic platforms
There is little doubt that the complete automation of crop management practices represents the ultimate goal of agricultural mechanization—especially when referring to operations carried out in open fields and across large areas. All tractor manufacturers, as well as the most structured global implement makers, have already introduced solutions in this direction. These range from traditional tractors robotized through dedicated automation kits to fully unmanned robots, designed to operate without onboard operators and supervised remotely.
It is this second path that New Holland Agriculture has chosen in developing a vehicle intended to operate in specialized environments such as orchards and vineyards, supporting current traditional operations through implements powered either mechanically or electrically.
The proposal, presented as a prototype last November at Agritechnica 2025 in Hannover, is called “R4.” It takes the form of a compact self-propelled platform mechanically reduced to the bare essentials. In practice, it consists of a propulsion system—either hybrid or fully electric—an intelligent continuously variable transmission acting on rubber tracks, an electrically powered hitch, and an electrical outlet known as e-PTO, operating at 48 volts and delivering 12 kilowatts (around 16 horsepower) to power future electric implements.
On the orchard version, a 540-rpm mechanical PTO is also provided, controlled by an intelligent progressive clutch to allow the use of standard implements. Both machines, however, lack a front axle, cab, and conventional hydraulic working systems.
Configured in this way—and featuring a particularly appealing design, an area in which New Holland and the wider CNH Industrial group have long excelled—the two R4 models are capable of performing repetitive, low value-added tasks where operational precision and safety do not depend on human presence.
Examples include inter-row mowing, soil cultivation, and spraying—all activities that can be monitored remotely through an app and controlled on the machine through a combination of GPS, LiDAR, and cameras.
As mentioned, two powertrain solutions are available:
- a fully electric version for vineyards
- a hybrid version for orchards
The vineyard version uses a 40-kWh battery pack, while the orchard version is based on a 44-kW hybrid system, equivalent to roughly 59 horsepower.
New Holland has not yet disclosed the power output or operating autonomy of the electric version, nor which diesel engine powers the hybrid model. However, it is reasonable to assume that the latter may use a proven G-Drive engine from FPT Industrial’s “F34” series, capable of running not only on conventional diesel fuel but also on HVO fuels derived from vegetable oils.
In this hybrid configuration, the combustion engine drives an electric generator that powers the transmission through an interface consisting of two 4-kWh batteries, which can also allow short periods of fully electric operation if necessary.
Machine dimensions naturally vary depending on the version. The vineyard model is only 70 centimeters wide and 138 centimeters high, weighs about one tonne including batteries, and features an ultra-compact hitch capable of lifting up to 500 kilograms.
The orchard-oriented R4 version, by contrast, is 120 centimeters wide and weighs 1,400 kilograms, mainly due to the presence of the additional 540-rpm mechanical PTO with intelligent progressive engagement.
With this configuration, the orchard version of the R4 offers a power-to-weight ratio about 35 percent lower than that of a conventional specialized tractor with similar power, making it particularly suitable for working on high-value soils where low ground pressure is essential.
This focus on specialized environments is also reflected in the intelligent electric implement management functions that New Holland is currently developing to promote increasingly sustainable farming practices.
One example is the development of smart spraying technologies designed to automatically regulate the flow rate of sprayers, optimizing their operation when the working unit approaches headlands and adjusting spray output according to canopy height. Development is also underway on systems capable of performing targeted spraying based on the detection of plant diseases.
Title: New Holland R4: true robotic platforms
Translation with ChatGPT
