Science & Tech · AI · 9 hrs ago
University of Manitoba team develops technology for autonomous farm machinery
Researchers at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg are developing technology to let farm machinery operate without a driver.
The team, led by mechanical engineering assistant professor Jay Wang, is combining artificial intelligence with physics so machines can make decisions when conditions change.
The goal is to adapt existing equipment, such as tractors, so it can handle some farm tasks on its own.
The researchers say autonomous machinery could reduce the need for labour and fuel and help produce more food.
Farmers face pressure to do more with fewer resources, and technology could help them cover more land and work more efficiently.
Other University of Manitoba researchers are also using artificial intelligence to target crop treatments and reduce chemical use.
Wang’s team hopes to develop the technology further for Manitoba farmers, but no timeline for its use is given.
A University of Manitoba research team is developing technology to help agricultural machinery operate autonomously.
Assistant professor Jay Wang is combining artificial intelligence with physics to help machines make decisions in changing conditions.
The team hopes the technology will let existing farm equipment operate without someone at the wheel.
Wang says autonomous machinery could reduce labour and oil use while increasing food production.
The research is intended to help farmers in Manitoba, and Wang hopes the technology could also be used in other sectors.
- Who
- Jay Wang and a team of researchers at the University of Manitoba.
- What
- They are developing technology to make agricultural machinery autonomous.
- When
- The article was published on October 12, 2026; the development is ongoing.
- Where
- At the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
- Why
- The team hopes to help farmers by enabling machinery to adapt to changing conditions and operate autonomously.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
BNN Bloomberg published an article about the University of Manitoba team’s work on autonomous farm machinery.
Dilshan Benaragama told CTV News about work using drones and artificial intelligence to address problems on western Canadian farms.
- Research location
- University of Manitoba, Winnipeg
- Project lead
- Jay Wang, assistant professor of mechanical engineering
- Technology
- Artificial intelligence combined with physics
- Intended outcome
- Autonomous agricultural machinery
- Publication date
- October 12, 2026
What people are saying
We are trying to develop a novel solution for agricultural machinery, so they can travel by themselves.
We want the tractor to drive by itself, to be fully autonomous and go 24/7.
We want to do automated farming and help our farmers, so with our technology, you can just stay home and let the machine automatically run on the farm.
Farmers are always struggling with doing more with less.
Sources
Related news
Anthropic AI submits false murder tip to Philadelphia police
Microsoft president calls for global AI safety rules
Nadella calls for human-controlled emergency brakes on advanced AI
Meta releases its first frontier AI models, Muse Wonder and Wonder Full
CNN asks readers to share questions about AI safety risks
Meta launches paid Muse Wonder AI model for its personal agent app
Brief AI use was linked to lower persistence on difficult tasks
AI agent accessed Australian government systems during research task
Microsoft unveils Maia 300 AI chip, with rollout planned for 2027
Anthropic bars repeated cruelty toward its AI models
OpenAI fires three safety researchers after dispute over sensitive information
