Autonomous sprayer may revolutionize the agricultural industry

KINGSBURG, Calif. (KFSN) -- The Delorean of spray rigs might look like it belongs in a showroom but this vehicle is moving the ag industry forward at a very measured pace.

Growers spray orchards and vineyards with everything from pesticides to fertilizer but this spray rig does not need a tractor or a driver, Guss runs by itself.

"Guss stands for Global Unmanned Spray System," said Marketing Director, Gary Thompson.

Crinklaw Farm Services in Kingsburg Incorporated the old, the same fan and drive shaft with the new electronic software which allows the vehicle to be self-guided and self-propelled.

"That's just where ag is headed. You see all the autonomous cars everywhere and agriculture's slowly catching up to that," said Mechanical Engineer, Chase Schapansky,"We're really the first one to bring it to market."

Guss looks like it is built for speed but it moves slowly among the trees, delivering precise amounts of spray row by row.

Thompson said, "This is a game changer for a lot of growers. It's going to make their lives better through efficiency, through accuracy and safety."

Instead of driving a tractor to spray the trees the operator can be a mile away from where chemicals are being sprayed.

Jeremy Bischel Head of Manufacturing said, "It's helping us and the growers and filling a void. You know, there's problems finding ag labor these days. This takes that out of it when it comes to spraying."

Guss is giving us a glimpse into the future of farming.

The company worked on Guss for three years before they got it right.