Technology & AISignal
Smart Cotton Farming Expands in Xinjiang with Autonomous Machinery and Drone Operations
Xinhua News Agency reports that automated equipment, intelligent drones, and digital management systems are increasingly modernizing cotton farming and attracting young operators across Xinjiang.
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Illustrative image; not a photograph of this reported event. Photo by alex on Pexels
The Brief
Xinhua News Agency reported that cotton harvesting is underway across Xinjiang, where cotton pickers traverse fields such as the Super Cotton Field in Yuli County to pick, compress, and pack cotton crops.
Project leader Ai Haipeng noted that the Super Cotton Field has achieved intelligent management of water, fertilizer, and agricultural chemicals, reaching an unmanned operation rate of 75% across its management links.
New equipment introduced this year includes the APC4 autopilot for tilling and seeding alongside the X150 agricultural drone, which autonomously plans routes, charges, refills, and applies chemicals for weed and pest control.
In Donggou Village in Changji City, farm owner Guo Teng operates a fully mechanized family farm equipped with four cotton pickers, six plant protection drones, more than ten seeders, and three high-horsepower tractors.
Why it matters
Ai Haipeng explained that unlike older drones requiring pilots to control flight paths, change batteries, and replenish chemicals, the autonomous drone operates overnight unattended and finishes plant protection tasks before morning.
China context
In 2021, agricultural robotics company XAG launched the Super Cotton Field project with Yuli County's support, assigning two managers to run 3000 mu of cotton fields to explore replicable unmanned management models.
Key Takeaways
- 1Unmanned operations in the Super Cotton Field project's management links have reached an overall rate of 75%.
- 2The autonomous X150 agricultural drone mixes and dispenses chemicals, recharges, and navigates flight routes without human piloting.
- 3Guo Teng manages operations using integrated precision drip irrigation, drones, and mechanized equipment across the full farming process.
Sources
- 智慧棉田成就新疆新一代科技棉农 — Xinhua News Agency · 10/15/2026