Fasterholt develops autonomous irrigation machine for precision irrigation
15/10/2026
The concept machine drives itself to and from the field, follows existing tramlines, adjusts water application by section and is awarded a two-star Agromek News.
Fasterholt Maskinfabrik presents an autonomous concept machine equipped with an irrigation boom, developed as the foundation for the next generation of the company’s irrigation machines. The machine combines RTK-GNSS, four-wheel steering and a section-controlled boom with sprinklers, enabling both machine guidance and water application to be managed with greater precision.
Field maps, hydrants and tramlines are transferred to Fasterholt’s app, after which the user enters the required application rate and any irrigation zones. The machine then handles deployment, irrigation and return travel autonomously. Powered by a turbine, it can irrigate both on the outward and return journey within each irrigation lane.
To minimise crop damage, the machine follows existing tramlines, such as sprayer tracks. Two RTK-GNSS units and four-wheel steering ensure that both wheels and hose follow the same path in both directions. The hose is placed in one wheel track rather than in a separate track, while an active hose-laying system ensures controlled hose placement, even when the machine is operating on curves.
The 36-metre-wide boom is divided into six-metre sections. The water application rate can be adjusted independently across the sections, allowing irrigation to be tailored to curves, field wedges and variations within the field. A flow meter simultaneously records water consumption both at field level and at precise GNSS-referenced positions.
Agromek’s judging panel has awarded the concept machine two stars. In its final assessment, the panel highlighted the combination of four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering, active hose deployment, GPS-based guidance and the ability to vary water application rates across the boom.
“The autonomous operation allows the machine to be positioned in a field and connected to a hydrant, after which it can irrigate as many tramlines as can physically be reached by the machine’s hose before it becomes necessary to reconnect a tractor and move the machine to a new position,” stated the judging panel.
According to Fasterholt, the concept is intended as the foundation for a future range of autonomous irrigation machines in different sizes and capacities. The company also notes that sprinkler irrigation using a boom can reduce water consumption compared with traditional irrigation guns.
Further information
Fasterholt Maskinfabrik A/S
Contact: Eva M. Jaffke
Tel.: +45 24 40 18 82
Email: ej@fasterholt.dk
Website: https://www.fasterholt.dk/da/
Stand: D3078
Address: Ejstrupvej 22, 7330 Brande