EFICAS powers sustainable innovation in smart farming

AI can enable greater performance in fields such as mobility and automation, but it’s not very power-efficient. As mobile and autonomous systems grow more complex, their power demands increase, placing a significant computational load on embedded platforms. To make AI-driven technologies viable at scale, energy efficiency becomes essential.

The ITEA project EFICAS addresses this challenge by developing a scalable and energy-efficient AI software platform for mobile and embedded systems. By reducing the power footprint of advanced AI applications, EFICAS enables intelligent devices – from smartphones to autonomous vehicles – to operate efficiently across localised, distributed, and cloud-based environments.

Autonomous spraying machine enhances efficiency and operator safety

As part of the EFICAS project, Turkish partner TürkTraktör has developed the New Holland autonomous spraying machine – a fully electric, next-generation agricultural vehicle designed to enhance sustainability, efficiency, and operator safety. The machine minimises farmers’ exposure to harmful chemicals through fully unmanned operation and reduces pesticide use via a low-volume, high-efficiency electrostatic spraying system.

Agriculture is an energy-intensive field – and autonomous electric machinery is no exception. The fully electric autonomous sprayer, designed to operate seamlessly day and night, faces one key limitation: battery capacity. Thanks to EFICAS’s energy-efficient AI software platform, the sprayer’s operating time can be extended by up to 5%. This improvement translates to more productive hours in the field and greater efficiency in every charge.

With autonomous driving, precision line tracking, 3D LIDAR and stereo camera-based obstacle detection, and RTK-supported GNSS positioning, the machine delivers highly accurate, round-the-clock performance. A mobile-friendly interface allows real-time monitoring, remote control, and emergency intervention – combining ease of use with cutting-edge technology.

Watch the demonstration video to see the autonomous spraying machine in action: