Voltrac is working on a dual-purpose robotic platform that can be used in agricultural fields as well as on the battlefield. The startup’s co-founder says that in the war in Ukraine, many soldiers are dying in logistical missions that an autonomous FPV-controlled tractor could perform.
Voltrac is working on a dual-purpose robotic platform that can be used in agricultural fields as well as on the battlefield. The startup’s co-founder says that in the war in Ukraine, many soldiers are dying in logistical missions that an autonomous FPV-controlled tractor could perform.
According to The Next Web, in peacetime, the 3.5-ton electric vehicle travels around farms, hauling heavy loads and using cameras to collect data on the health of crops. In combat, it can withstand enemy attacks to deliver critical cargo to soldiers on the front lines.
«In Ukraine, for example, many lives are lost in non-combat situations, including during frontline supply missions. This is where we see how a machine like ours makes a difference: it is designed for difficult terrain and does not risk human life. It can do the same job, whether it is transporting crops or transporting ammunition», — said Francisco Infante Aguirre, co-founder and CTO of Voltrac.
The Voltrac has a payload of 4,000 kg, a top speed of 40 km/h and a range of up to 20 hours thanks to several large 200 kWh batteries stored in the body. Like an electric bike, the tractor’s batteries can be replaced — except that these batteries are so heavy that they require a forklift to transport them.
The tractor comes with a standard hitch, which is how farmers typically attach equipment such as plows, mowers, or tillers. The machine can also be retrofitted with a giant flatbed that allows it to carry a container full of supplies. This is useful for both farms and the front line.
«Our tractor requires only minor modifications to its equipment to easily serve both the agricultural and defense markets from a single platform,» Infante said. He added that the startup is in preliminary talks with NATO departments. For military purposes, these modifications include adding anti-jamming technology and drone interception to protect against enemy attacks. The machine can also be used for mine clearance.
The developers plan to make the tractor fully autonomous; currently, the vehicle is controlled remotely, like a drone with first-person view (FPV). Voltrac plans to allow one person to control multiple tractors from a remote station. Once the company receives regulatory approval, it plans to allow the machines to drive themselves.
«We’re not just building a smarter tractor—we’re building a system that learns as it goes, which is one of the main differences from other smart tractors,» said Voltrac CEO and co-founder Thomas Hubregtsen.
The startup aims to develop its tractors — and the software and hardware that underpin them — entirely in-house. The vehicles are built largely from off-the-shelf components. Thanks to their electric drivetrain and lack of a cab, they use 70% fewer parts than traditional tractors.
Voltrac was founded a little over a year ago. The startup quickly raised $2 million in pre-seed funding from Antler and Foodlabs, which allowed it to build its first prototype. The company plans to hold a seed round in September and start shipping tractors in 2026.
Recall that in May, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense allowed the Armed Forces of Ukraine to operate «Vislyuks» — tracked robotic complexes with electric motors that can perform evacuation and mine-laying tasks.
