# Autonomous vehicle technology deep dive at John Deere and Zoox

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2023-04-18
- Length: 1h 20m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-04-18-autonomous-vehicle-technology-deep-dive-at-john-deere-and-zoox
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/autonomous-vehicle-technology-deep-dive-at-john-deere-and-zoox

## Summary

Jorge Heraud, VP of Autonomy at John Deere, explains how the company leverages its acquisition of Blue River Technology and Spark AI to deploy Level 4 autonomous tractors, using computer vision and machine learning to enable 'See and Spray' and autonomous tillage while managing rural connectivity challenges. RJ He and Ryan McMichael, technology leaders at Zoox, discuss their purpose-built, steering-wheel-free robotaxi recently deployed on public roads in California, detailing a perception stack that integrates cameras, LIDAR, radar, and thermal imaging to ensure safety through redundancy and diversity. The episode contrasts the agricultural application of autonomy, focused on labor relief and precision, with the urban mobility focus of Zoox, highlighting the technical hurdles of sensor fusion, edge cases, and the critical importance of building a robust safety case for public acceptance.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-04-18-autonomous-vehicle-technology-deep-dive-at-john-deere-and-zoox#t=6) Introduction: Robot Report Podcast and Event Announcements
- [4:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-04-18-autonomous-vehicle-technology-deep-dive-at-john-deere-and-zoox#t=245) John Deere Tech Summit: Autonomous Tractors and ExactShot
- [12:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-04-18-autonomous-vehicle-technology-deep-dive-at-john-deere-and-zoox#t=743) Jorge Heraud on John Deere Autonomy and Spark AI
- [28:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-04-18-autonomous-vehicle-technology-deep-dive-at-john-deere-and-zoox#t=1698) Transition to Zoox and Purpose-Built Robotaxi Design
- [32:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-04-18-autonomous-vehicle-technology-deep-dive-at-john-deere-and-zoox#t=1928) Zoox Public Road Deployment and Perception Stack Overview
- [46:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-04-18-autonomous-vehicle-technology-deep-dive-at-john-deere-and-zoox#t=2798) Zoox Sensor Architecture: Redundancy, Diversity, and Weather
- [58:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-04-18-autonomous-vehicle-technology-deep-dive-at-john-deere-and-zoox#t=3539) Zoox Simulation, Validation, and Industry Challenges
- [1:11:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-04-18-autonomous-vehicle-technology-deep-dive-at-john-deere-and-zoox#t=4297) Zoox Internship Program and Company Culture

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- John Deere (company)
- Zoox (company)
- Blue River Technology (company)
- Spark AI (company)
- Starlink (company)
- Teladon (company)
- Optimus Ride (company)
- Cruise (company)
- ExactShot (product)
- See and Spray (product)
- Auto Track (product)
- LIDAR (chip)
- Radar (chip)
- Thermal Imaging (chip)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Digital Transformation: From Tractors to Autonomous Agriculture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2023-12-21-digital-transformation-from-tractors-to-autonomous-agriculture) (Over the Air)
- [Smart Farming: The Role of IoT and AI | John Deere's Gaurav Bansal | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2024-06-18-smart-farming-the-role-of-iot-and-ai-john-deeres-gaurav-bansal-internet-of-thing) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Episode Eleven – Self-Driving Cars: behind the wheel](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-10-29-episode-eleven-self-driving-cars-behind-the-wheel) (Robot Talk)
- [Getting Out of the Weeds with John Deere's Revolutionary AI Technology](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2023-06-13-getting-out-of-the-weeds-with-john-deeres-revolutionary-ai-technology) (Moore's Lobby)
- [From the Ground Up—Zoox Turns a Corner with New AV and Sensor System Designs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-10-11-from-the-ground-up-zoox-turns-a-corner-with-new-av-and-sensor-system-designs) (Moore's Lobby)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-04-18-autonomous-vehicle-technology-deep-dive-at-john-deere-and-zoox. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Robot Report Podcast.