A New Zealand agritech firm, Robotics Plus, presented its autonomous, multi-use hybrid vehicle, Prospr, at FIRA USA in Woodland, Sacramento, California. This event focuses on autonomous farming and agricultural robotics solutions. Prospr is engineered for orchard and vineyard tasks, aiming to enhance efficiency and sustainability while minimizing labor dependency. Launched at last year's FIRA, Prospr is now operational in the US, Australia, and New Zealand, according to Steve Saunders, co-founder and CEO of Robotics Plus. Saunders highlighted the global agricultural challenge of increasing sustainable food production with minimal environmental impact. Prospr's design promotes adaptability to various agricultural tasks with its modular architecture, capable of operating all day.
Prospr's hybrid diesel-electric system is noted for reducing fuel consumption by 70%, thus decreasing emissions and operational costs. The vehicle incorporates an AI system for navigation, ensuring efficiency and safety through obstacle detection and avoidance. Additionally, Prospr offers an intuitive user interface, allowing remote management and monitoring of tasks. Its design includes automated intelligent spraying, employing dynamic spray rates and air speeds for enhanced application efficiency. Robotics Plus anticipates the development of further attachments to expand Prospr's utility in agriculture.
Source: The Country