Agricultural AV launched

New Zealand-based agritech company Robotics Plus has launched Prospr, a multi-use autonomous electrified hybrid for agriculture that automates a variety of tree crop tasks.

Prospr, designed for sustainable orchard and vineyard production, has been unveiled at FIRA, an autonomous agriculture event in the US.

Tauranga’s Robotics Plus says the Prospr EV is now commercially available and accommodates multiple swappable tools being developed.

These include newly released tower sprayers for grapes, apples, or tree crops.

The agriculture industry faces unprecedented challenges as this generation works to produce more food sustainably while reducing emissions and supplying at a lower cost, says Robotics Plus co-founder and chief executive Steve Saunders.

“Prospr is a robust autonomous vehicle, with all-day running, that adapts to the jobs growers need to do while reducing emissions, inputs and reliance on increasingly hard-to-find machine operators.

“We’ve focussed on utilisation and flexibility with a unique modular architecture, allowing different tools for various crop types and applications year-round to maximise return on investment.”

A remodelled platform for tools, new spraying attachments, and a new user interface to aid management and planning have been included.

Machine connectivity, control, safety and localisation has also been improved, with Prospr having its own wireless network, keeping vehicles online and enabling software updates for new features.

Prospr has an all-electric drive system for superior torque and control. Its onboard power generation, with a Tier 4 diesel generator, allows the vehicle to operate for extended periods without charging or refuelling.

Regenerative braking and high-capacity batteries extend range while its intelligent all-wheel-drive system with independent wheel motors provides manoeuvrability, grip and control.

Tests show it can have up to a 70% reduction in fuel consumption when compared to traditional diesel tractors doing the same job.

Prospr has electric steering and independent motors. The vehicle turns on its rear axle with a minimum headland requirement of 7.1m for row-to-row turning. Minimum row spacing is 1.85m, giving growers options to deploy automation in a greater variety of applications in various crop types. Its lightweight design, combined with its unique tyre and wheel configuration, reduces ground compaction.

Saunders says; “We’ve delivered a highly adaptable modular vehicle and are partnering with industry leaders to deliver various technologies for our tools.

“The first of these partnerships is with Croplands, a leader in sprayer technology.

“Our ongoing partnership with Yamaha Motor Co is helping us refine and productise our vehicle for scale. This significantly increases the robustness and support for Propsr in demanding and ever-changing agricultural environments.”

Click here for more information on Prospr.