10/07/2025

Autonomous ≠ Automatic – What True Independence in the Field Really Means

Semantics or serious innovation?

Automated, semi-autonomous, autonomous – three terms often used interchangeably, even though they mean vastly different things when it comes to agricultural machinery.
There’s a world of difference — technically, legally, and in terms of safety — between a GPS-assisted tractor and a fully independent field robot.

“There is no universally accepted definition of autonomy levels in agricultural systems. [...] Evaluation heavily depends on the operational context.”
German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Position Paper on Adaptive Autonomous Agricultural Systems, 2022

So when we speak of “autonomy”, we must ask:

  • How many decisions does the machine make on its own?
  • Can it react to unexpected conditions?
  • How safe is it without human oversight?

From GPS to AI – The spectrum of machine independence

Frameworks such as ALFUS (Autonomy Levels for Unmanned Systems) or ISO 18497 help distinguish:

  • Automation: repeatable, rule-based operations
  • Semi-autonomy: adaptive behavior in known environments
  • Full autonomy: independent navigation and decision-making in complex, dynamic scenarios

Arnold NextG’s NX NextMotion is a system designed to scale across this full range. From operator-assisted to fully autonomous missions, its foundation remains constant:
Digitally secured control – with built-in redundancy, cybersecurity, and real-time response.

Conclusion: Autonomy must be defined before it can be delivered

Autonomy is not a checkbox — it's a development philosophy.
The clearer we define what a system must be able to do, the faster and safer we can scale it into the field.

And the future of farming will not be mechanically driven — but architecturally orchestrated.

A friendly, smiling, bald man with glasses who is Mathias Koch and is your contact person.
Mathias Koch
Vice President Business and Corporate Development