autonomous ATV crosses farmlands with care for delicate ecosystems

powerful and gentle on the land

As the future promises a need for more sustainable and responsible farming, designer Fanny Johnson proposes a electric, autonomous ATV which takes humans out of the picture. Farming crucially relies on biodiversity, and especially regenerative ranches — especially with multi-crop fields, avid supervision is required to maintain a sustainable balance. The newly designed CAKE Kibb aims to keep regenerative agriculture thriving during a time when soil resources are already depleting.

The Kibb takes its name from a word meaning ‘ox’ in Gutniska — a dialect from the Swedish island Gotland. This name symbolizes the powerful strength of the vehicle and its gentle existence on nature.

images by Fanny Johnson

the autonomous ‘cake kibb’ atv

Transportation designer Fanny Johnson (see more here) proposes the autonomous CAKE Kibb ATV to prioritize the use of natural resources wherever possible. With environmental protection put first, it is intended to responsibly plant and harvest crops either on its own or semi-autonomously. Traditional field and farm machinery is driven by fossil fuels, an idea which contrasts the spirit of caring for the land and the animals which live on it, all without affecting the delicate ecosystems. Instead, Kibb is designed to respect, not damage, the land’s biodiversity while of course aiding farmers at the same time.

Fanny Johnson comments: ‘We must harness the generative power of earth itself. The power lies in biodiversity, and we can no longer operate farms and ranches with only one type of crop or animal.’

While stressing the importance of regenerative agriculture, the designer spotlights need to traverse these ranches and farms, moving livestock and carrying harvested crops without disturbing the grass.

the electric solution

Fanny Johnson’s proposed electric ATV will gently cross the land with or without a human driver. The design is centered on modularity — with such a range of tasks on a farm, Kibbs technology can be easily swapped out or updated, ensuring that it is always up-to-date, throughout its lifetime.

The designer explains: ‘The simplistic design is catching the essence of what is necessary for the vehicle. With this keeping an honest expression. The vehicle is designed to at all times make as little impact as possible although still provide the user with the power and capability that is needed.

‘It is moving around the farm with a gentle and confident manner respecting the ground and its surroundings.’

a responsible materiality

Keeping a holistic spirit, the Scandinavian CAKE Kibb autonomous ATV is built of locally-sourced materials. ‘Soil Savers’ tires are produced from dandelions which are common across the region while the vehicles plastics made from linseed plants grown locally in Sweden. The main material is aluminum, used on both the ATV’s frame and its detailing. Aluminum is, or course, a sustainable choice as it is recyclable and will not degrade throughout multiple lifecycles.

Fanny Johnson continues: ‘The main stakeholders in this project except the human user are the animals. Both the ones living in the soil but also the ones living on the farm. If keeping the soil covered and a healthy root system, a diverse ecosystem of bugs and organisms can thrive in it.

‘Above ground the quiet and non-direct polluting electric drivetrain will keep the environment around the farm animals non-disturbing both physically and chemically.’