A pita company examines an agricultural sprayer car with an electric motor

Almería-based company IDM, Ideas y Desarrollo para la Mejora Continua SL will develop a primary project within the framework of the Spanish Government’s Strategic Projects for the Recovery and Economic Transformation of Connected Electric Vehicles (VEC) (PERTE). Along with thirteen other entities, it will participate in a tractor project called INVECPRO for industrial and transverse research into new technologies for this type of professional vehicle.

Specifically, IDM will design a lightweight tractor sprayer for agricultural use with electric motorization, including a system based on a hydrogen fuel cell. The company will investigate autonomous driving, its connectivity, decision and control systems, and address the incorporation of artificial intelligence technologies to determine the most effective autonomous driving movements for this agricultural vehicle.

In this primary project, a new electrified design of the ‘Fumimatic’ tractor will be perfected with connectivity and remote management solutions including autonomous driving. The company’s participation from Almeria in Strategic Projects for Economic Reform and Transformation (PERTE) represents a great opportunity to accelerate the incorporation of these vehicle traction technologies without CO2 emissions. IDM will begin its business experience in autonomous driving of these vehicles, designing on-board systems that allow automatic navigation and guidance of vehicles, as well as studying connectivity solutions with the Fundación Instituto Tecnológico de Castilla y León. It will also develop R&D through simulation models for advanced design of these vehicles.

With machinery in over 45 countries such as Australia, China, Malaysia, France, Germany, Armenia, Canada, the US, Peru, Mexico or Chile, 90% of IDM’s business is produced overseas.

The company is a specialist in high-mobility machinery for high-density agriculture, both in greenhouses and open areas. Since the beginning of September, the company has been operating in PITA.