Application of navigation technology in agricultural machinery: A review and prospects

Abstract

With the rapid advancement of information technology, the intelligent and unmanned applications of agricultural machinery and equipment have become a central focus of current research. Navigation technology is central to achieving autonomous driving in agricultural machinery and plays a key role in advancing intelligent agriculture. However, although some studies have reviewed aspects of agricultural machinery navigation technologies, a comprehensive and systematic overview that clearly outlines the developmental trajectory of these technologies is still lacking. At the same time, there is an urgent need to break through traditional navigation frameworks to address the challenges posed by complex agricultural environments. Addressing this gap, this study provides a comprehensive overview of the evolution of navigation technologies in agricultural machinery, categorizing them into three stages: assisted navigation, autonomous navigation, and intelligent navigation, based on the level of autonomy in agricultural machinery. Special emphasis is placed on the brain-inspired navigation technology, which is an important branch of intelligent navigation and has attracted widespread attention as an emerging direction. It innovatively mimics the cognitive and learning abilities of the brain, demonstrating high adaptability and robustness to better handle uncertainty and complex environments. Importantly, this paper innovatively explores six potential applications of brain-inspired navigation technology in the agricultural field, highlighting its significant potential to enhance the intelligence of agricultural machinery. The review concludes by discussing current limitations and future research directions. The findings of this study aim to guide the development of more intelligent, adaptive, and resilient navigation systems, accelerating the transformation toward fully autonomous agricultural operations.