JOHN DEERE INTRODUCES NEW ROBOTIC R-GATOR™ BASED ON MILITARY INPUT

When a use vehicle has to operate in all the places the John Deere R-Gator goes, terrain capacities are key. With this is mind, the John Deere team has refined the chassis of its popular autonomous car to give the go-anywhere R-Gator an independent suspension and improved ground clearance. The updated R-Gator also boasts a faster top speed, travelling up to 35 mph in manual mode.

‘Since we’re always looking to improve our products, we’ve been running R-Gator exercises with soldiers and marines,’ claimed Mark Bodwell, worldwide military affairs group manager for John Deere. ‘Through those exercises, we’ve come to appreciate just how vital it is to be ready to navigate hilly or rough terrain fast. The improved R-Gator was developed in direct reaction to the military feedback we received.’

The R-Gator has 11 inches of ground clearance and its four-wheel, independent suspension is absolutely adjustable for improved mobility and superior fording capabilities.

Based on the proved M-Gator military vehicle platform, the R-Gator employs commercial off-the-shelf technology and includes precision guidance, navigation and obstacle avoidance technology that has been at work for 20 years in John Deere’s rural products. The R-Gator can be operated in manual, tele-operational or completely autonomous mode during nighttime and daytime and supports army personnel through lightening the load, persistent stare, load carrying, point-man reconnaissance, roving patrols, resupply, casualty evacuation and more.

‘John Deere has a long record of supporting the U.S. Military,’ said Bodwell. ‘We’re proud to do so and we’re committed to providing the products and features our soldiers and girls need and request. The R-Gator is just one more example of that commitment.’.