Robotics Plus commercially launched Prospr, its multi-use autonomous vehicle for sustainable vineyard and orchard production in late 2023 – and it's been attracting a lot of interest from growers since.
Robotics Plus' Chief Commercial Officer Nathan Soich says the company designed Prospr to empower growers to adapt to today's ever-evolving agricultural landscape.
"Growers are innovators and are always looking for new ways to be more efficient, productive and sustainable. We've had a fantastic response to the launch of Prospr, and we already have machines working in vineyards and orchards in New Zealand, Australia and the US. It's great to be able to share feedback with other growers about how our automation can be embraced and integrated into processes."
Soich says automation is not about replacing jobs; rather, it's about performing more mundane tasks more efficiently and sustainably, removing people from dangerous environments, and creating better jobs.
Main markets
"The main markets for Prospr are the US, Australia, and New Zealand, but we've had interest from around the world, including Europe and South America, where we're starting to explore partnership opportunities for the future."
Prospr addresses challenges facing orchardists and growers worldwide, including reducing reliance on hard-to-find skilled machine operators, improving sustainability and lowering their carbon footprint, achieving more exact spray applications, cutting operating costs, improving efficiency, and optimising operations to maintain profitability.
Partnerships with Croplands and Burrows
"Prospr distributors, Burrows in the US and Croplands in Australia and New Zealand have long-established links with growers, a good understanding of what they need to bring out the best in their operations and have been able to provide excellent support and advice on the benefits automation can deliver. In the case of Croplands, growers also benefit greatly from their superior sprayer technology and expertise. Robotics Plus partnered with Croplands on the design and manufacture of the world-leading Quantum sprayer modules that integrate into Prospr."
Burrows and Croplands have been leading technical demonstrations and showcasing Prospr at industry events that have generated a lot of interest. Robotics Plus collaborates with distributors on marketing and actively promotes Prospr through these events. The collective efforts have been effective at increasing visibility to more growers and helping build sales momentum.
"Prospr is a robust, autonomous, multi-use hybrid vehicle platform that significantly increases efficiency across a variety of crop tasks. Prospr's unique modular architecture accommodates multiple interchangeable tools being developed, including newly released tower sprayers for grapes, apples, or tree crops. Depending on the day's work, the right tool for the job is attached to the vehicle, allowing different tools for various crop types, growing formats and heights."
Intelligent and targeted spraying
Growers can deploy a range of spray configurations. Spray rates and air speed are dynamic and controlled in zones or by individual fans, to maximise spray efficacy. This means that spray that is much more targeted than traditional sprayers. The fine mist and turbulent air produced by the sprayers puts spray on the backs of leaves. All of this results in superior droplet formation and spray deposition. A range of other attachments are being developed and will be released over time.
Cutting labour requirements and improving efficiency
Prospr revolutionises agricultural operations and significantly increases efficiency with all-day running that adapts to growers' needs while reducing emissions, inputs, and reliance on increasingly hard-to-find machine operators. Prospr can be used for a range of applications year-round to maximise return on investment.
"Prospr uses a combination of perception systems to sense the environment and execute tasks that traditionally require human intervention—taking people out of harmful spray environments and enabling data-driven insights. It is a hybrid, all-electric drive, autonomous vehicle with on-board power generation. Electric drive motors give superior torque and control, whilst a diesel generator means the vehicle can operate for extended periods with no need to plug in. Fuel consumption is minimized by electrically driving all systems, including tools – and can achieve over 70% reduction in fuel consumption when compared to traditional diesel tractors doing the same job.
"Prospr is reliable and easy to use, and operators don't need to be technical. The robot is implemented with a mesh network to provide a more consistent connection and interaction with the machine, improving operational efficiencies and user safety. It also advances the way operators plan, manage and streamline the day's work – through a simple organisational tool with an easy-to-use interface. Team members can coordinate across various desktop and mobile devices with multi-language support. Jobs can be logged in advance and viewed in real time. Completed or in-progress jobs are mapped and recorded digitally.
"One or two operators can manage multiple Prospr machines simultaneously from a single remote control via a fixed or mobile console – amplifying impact and enabling seamless scalability. Prospr has the smarts to not just do the job but keep doing it better. With more units in the field, the AI is continuing to learn and develop as it encounters new growing features and operating environments."
Grapes and apples
The initial crop targets for Prospr are grapes and apples. Vineyards and apple orchards in New Zealand, Australia, and the US are already using Prospr, and Robotics Plus is currently talking to growers of other crop types.
"A range of Q Series Sprayers, developed by Robotics Plus in conjunction with Croplands, allows growers to deploy a spraying configuration to suit crop types and growing systems. The Q4 / Q6 sprayers have two or three fans per side and are designed for vine or tree crops. The Q8 sprayer comprises eight fans, four per side, and is best suited to tree crops. Prospr is suitable for smaller operators to large global operators who can use multiple Prosprs in a fleet."
For more information:
www.roboticsplus.co.nz