Current State and Future Directions in Remote-Controlled Agricultural Machinery-A Review

This systematic literature review explores the role of remote-controlled and wireless technologies in agricultural machinery, particularly for operations involving high drudgery and risks such as dust and smoke inhalation, noise-induced hearing loss, moving-part injuries and chemical contamination. While modern mechanization reduces drudgery, effective adoption of remote-controlled systems depends on affordable electronic components, farmer training, integration with renewable energy and AI, reliable service support and government subsidy schemes. These factors collectively promote wider use of remote-controlled technologies in agriculture. The comprehensive literature search identified 74 relevant studies published across 88 journals, theses and conference proceedings between 2003 and 2025. These studies were contributed by 122 authors affiliated with 44 institutions from 18 countries. The review utilized established databases such as ResearchGate, Krishi Kosh, IEEE Xplore, MDPI, Elsevier, SpringerLink, government sources and international thesis repositories; and followed the PRISMA framework for systematic analysis. The results reveal that remote-controlled technology significantly enhances operator capability, improves the working environment, reduces labour requirements and minimizes fatal accidents associated with agricultural machinery. It also offers a suitable solution for operators with limited mobility, including those with leg disabilities and elderly users. Significant advancements have been reported in countries such as China, Malaysia and Japan. India is also progressing toward wider adoption of these technologies. Overall, this review provides valuable insights into the current state of knowledge and technological developments in remote-controlled agricultural machinery, serving as a strong foundation for future research and global adoption.