John Deere’s autonomous orchard sprayer unit GUSS Automation plans to deploy Ouster’s Rev8 OS0 digital lidar sensors in its next-generation fleet, the company announced on Wednesday.
The sensors will be integrated into GUSS’s autonomous Orchard GUSS and Mini GUSS machines, which are designed for precision spraying in permanent crops such as orchards and vineyards. Ouster’s lidar technology provides 3D point cloud data to enhance navigation and obstacle detection in outdoor conditions, including dust, spray, and dense vegetation.
GUSS Automation, acquired by John Deere in 2023, operates as part of the company’s high-value crop autonomy portfolio. The Rev8 OS0 sensors feature an ultra-wide field of view, enabling mapping of tree trunks, crop rows, and ground contours with centimeter-level precision—a capability critical for orchards where standard GPS systems often fall short.
The deployment will allow a single operator to monitor up to eight autonomous machines simultaneously via a laptop, with sales handled through John Deere’s dealer network. Jason Brantley, Vice President of Production Systems for Small Ag & Turf at John Deere, stated that integrating advanced sensing technologies supports reliable operation in complex orchard environments.
GUSS’s autonomous sprayers address challenges unique to high-value crop production, where precision and adaptability are essential for operational efficiency and yield protection.
