Crop-spraying robot is designed to reduce emissions and use less herbicide
The spraying of orchards and vineyards certainly isn't an eco-friendly process, with tractors spewing exhaust as they douse crops in herbicides and pesticides. That's one of the main reasons the electric, autonomous Prospr robot was created.
Manufactured by New Zealand agritech company Robotics Plus, the all-wheel-drive robotic vehicle was unveiled last September at the FIRA agricultural robotics show in California. It's now in commercial use in New Zealand, Australia and the US.
Among other features, the robot sports a refillable spray tank, multiple spray fans, a diesel generator, a battery pack, and four knobby-tired wheels which are each independently driven by their own electric motor.
For relatively short spray jobs, Prospr can operate on battery power alone. The generator kicks in for longer jobs, producing electricity that reportedly allows the bot to work all day long without recharging or refueling. As a result, Prospr is claimed to use up to 72% less fuel than a traditional diesel tractor performing the same task.
Guided by GPS, the robot makes its way up and down rows of vines or trees, spraying the crops along either side of itself as it goes. It utilizes a combination of LiDAR sensors and cameras to detect and identify any obstacles in its path, slowing down or stopping as necessary.
Prospr additionally has a pressure-sensitive front bumper, which triggers the bot to stop if it encounters significant resistance. If all else fails, there's also an on-vehicle emergency stop button.
Article
What is Agritech?
Agritech is a rapidly growing field that combines cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, data analytics, precision farming, and the Internet of Things (IoT) to improve agricultural productivity, efficiency, and sustainability.
Here are some key aspects of agritech:
Applications of Agritech:
Agritech Companies:
Benefits of Agritech:
Challenges and Limitations: