Close
By Giannis Fyrogenis, Project Manager at reframe.food
For many farmers, the tractor is more than a machine. It is the heartbeat of the farm, a trusted partner that has shaped generations of work. But as agriculture faces new environmental and economic challenges, even this familiar companion is evolving. In the Smart Droplets project, tradition meets technology through the creation of a retrofitted autonomous tractor that blends reliability with intelligence.
The goal is simple yet transformative: to make precision agriculture accessible, sustainable, and safe. Instead of replacing existing machinery with expensive new systems, Smart Droplets shows that innovation can start with what farmers already have. By upgrading standard tractors with sensors, cameras, and autonomous navigation tools, the project gives them new life and new purpose.
At the heart of this transformation lies a Direct Injection Spraying (DIS) system that works in harmony with advanced AI models and a digital twin of the field. The DIS system allows the tractor to spray with surgical precision, applying only the necessary amount of fertilizer or pesticide. This not only protects crops and farmers from overexposure to chemicals but also dramatically reduces environmental impact.
The tractor’s intelligence comes from its connection to the Smart Droplets digital platform. Data from the field – such as crop growth, soil conditions, and pest presence – is processed by AI models and mirrored in a digital twin, a virtual representation that continuously learns and improves. The retrofitted tractor then uses this information to make decisions in real time, adjusting its actions to match the actual needs of the field.
Behind the technical details lies a deeper purpose. By focusing on retrofitting, Smart Droplets makes innovation practical and inclusive. Farmers do not need to replace their entire fleet or invest in futuristic equipment. Instead, they can build on what they already own, step by step. This approach supports smaller and medium-sized farms, helping them join the digital transition without losing touch with the land or their way of working.
The retrofitted tractor also serves as a symbol of what Smart Droplets stands for: collaboration between human knowledge and technological progress. It brings together the expertise of engineers, agronomists, and farmers in a shared effort to make agriculture smarter, safer, and more sustainable.
Through this work, Smart Droplets is not only advancing technology but reimagining what the tools of farming can be. The tractor remains a symbol of strength and productivity, but now it also represents intelligence, adaptability, and environmental care.
In the fields of the future, innovation will not replace tradition. It will build upon it, one retrofit at a time.