The Nexus Robotics La Chèvre is an advanced autonomous weeding robot designed to revolutionize weed control in agricultural fields. Leveraging sophisticated artificial intelligence, a precise vision system, and a mechanical gripper, this innovative machine offers a sustainable and efficient alternative to traditional weeding methods. It operates fully autonomously, performing the critical final stage of weeding to protect crops and significantly reduce the need for manual labor and chemical inputs.
Named 'La Chèvre' (French for 'The Goat'), this robot embodies a new era of precision agriculture. It is engineered to navigate complex farm environments, identify weeds with high accuracy, and remove them without harming the surrounding crops. Its continuous operation capabilities and data collection features provide farmers with unprecedented control and insight into their fields, fostering healthier crops and more sustainable farming practices.
Key Features
At the core of La Chèvre's capabilities is its AI-Powered Vision System, which utilizes cameras, advanced AI technology, and neural networks to meticulously distinguish between crops and weeds across all growth stages. This intelligent system ensures highly accurate detection, a crucial step for effective and damage-free weed removal. Once a weed is identified, an Articulated Robotic Arm with a Mechanical Gripper precisely targets and pulls it from the soil. These mounted robotic arms, featuring delta mechanisms, can remove weeds directly adjacent to crops, a unique advantage over other cultivation or spot-spraying robots that might cause soil disturbance or crop damage.
Designed for relentless productivity, La Chèvre offers 24/7 Autonomous Operation, significantly reducing the reliance on manual labor and enabling farmers to address weeding challenges around the clock. Its Zero-Turn RTK-GPS Navigation system ensures high-precision movement within the field, complemented by LiDAR sensors for obstacle detection and SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) methods that fuse camera and depth sensor measurements for robust self-localization. The robot's Hybrid-Electric Driveline, featuring an electric drive system powered by batteries charged via an onboard diesel generator, provides extended operational autonomy in the field.
Beyond weeding, La Chèvre excels in Data Collection and Continuous Learning. It constantly gathers valuable information about crops and growing conditions, feeding this data back into its neural network. This iterative learning process continuously refines its weed detection and removal algorithms, while also providing farmers with critical insights into soil fertility and disease remediation. A significant benefit is the Reduced Herbicide Dependency, as the robot is designed to perform the final stage of weeding autonomously, potentially cutting herbicide and fungicide application by up to 50%. Furthermore, a specialized Shade Skirt provides consistent illumination for the robot's cameras, optimizing the accuracy of its vision system regardless of external lighting conditions.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Robot Name | La Chèvre |
| Function | Autonomous Weeding |
| Length | Approx. 4.72 meters (15.5 feet) |
| Width | Approx. 2.25 meters (7.4 feet) |
| Height | Approx. 2.19 meters (7.2 feet) |
| Turning Radius | Zero-turn |
| Weight | 1600 kg |
| Energy Source | Battery powered (charged via diesel generator) |
| Driveline | Electric drive system (propulsion motor operated) |
| Navigation System | RTK-GPS, LiDAR sensors, SLAM methods |
| Weeding Capacity | Up to 5 acres per 24 hours (approx. 0.2 acres/hour) |
| Drive Motors | Electric DC motors for each drive wheel |
| Steering Motors | Four steering motors |
Use Cases & Applications
The Nexus Robotics La Chèvre is primarily utilized for autonomous weeding in agricultural fields, particularly within vegetable farming. Its precision allows farmers to effectively manage weed encroachment without resorting to broad-spectrum chemical applications. By replacing manual labor for weeding tasks, which can involve up to five people, the robot addresses labor shortages and reduces operational costs. Furthermore, La Chèvre plays a crucial role in reducing the need for herbicide and fungicide application by up to 50%, contributing to more sustainable and organic farming practices. Beyond weed removal, the robot continuously collects data about crops and growing conditions, providing invaluable information to farmers for informed decisions on soil fertility, disease remediation, and even harvest prediction.
Strengths & Weaknesses
| Strengths ✅ | Weaknesses ⚠️ |
|---|---|
| Highly precise weed removal directly next to crops, a capability often lacking in other systems. | High initial investment cost (US $500,000). |
| Utilizes advanced AI, neural networks, and vision systems for accurate weed detection and removal. | Relatively modest output capacity of approximately 0.2 acres per hour, or 5 acres in 24 hours. |
| Operates autonomously 24 hours a day, significantly reducing reliance on manual labor (up to five people). | Battery charging relies on a diesel generator, which has environmental implications (emissions) and operational noise. |
| Reduces the need for herbicide and fungicide application by up to 50%, promoting sustainable farming. | Its substantial size (approximately the size of a minivan, 1600 kg) may limit maneuverability in very small or irregularly shaped fields. |
| Collects valuable data on crops and growing conditions, offering insights for soil fertility and disease remediation. | |
| Features zero-turn capability and robust navigation with RTK-GPS, LiDAR, and SLAM. | |
| Hybrid-electric design with onboard charging ensures extended field autonomy. | |
| Does not disturb the soil as much as cultivation. | |
| Can theoretically handle slightly bigger weeds compared to laser, tine, and cultivator automated systems. |
Benefits for Farmers
Farmers adopting the Nexus Robotics La Chèvre can realize significant benefits across several key areas. Time savings are substantial, as the robot's 24/7 autonomous operation frees up valuable labor hours that would otherwise be spent on manual weeding. This directly translates to cost reduction by minimizing labor expenses and drastically cutting down on herbicide and fungicide purchases, potentially by as much as 50%. Yield improvement is also a direct result of La Chèvre's precision weeding, which removes weeds without damaging crops, leading to healthier plants and better harvests. Furthermore, the robot contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing chemical inputs and minimizing soil disturbance, aligning with modern ecological farming practices.
Integration & Compatibility
La Chèvre is designed to integrate seamlessly into modern farm operations by providing valuable data that can inform broader farm management strategies. Its RTK-GPS navigation system ensures compatibility with existing precision agriculture infrastructure for field mapping and autonomous operation. The data collected on crop health and growing conditions can be fed into farm management systems, empowering farmers with actionable insights for optimizing soil fertility, managing disease, and improving overall crop health. Its autonomous nature means it can operate alongside other farm machinery without direct human intervention, enhancing overall operational efficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How does this product work? | The Nexus Robotics La Chèvre uses a vision system with AI and neural networks to detect weeds. An articulated robotic arm, equipped with a mechanical gripper, then moves to the weed's location and precisely removes it. This autonomous process minimizes crop damage and eliminates the need for herbicides. |
| What is the typical ROI? | The robot can replace up to five people in manual weeding tasks, significantly reducing labor costs. Additionally, by minimizing herbicide and fungicide application by up to 50%, it offers substantial savings on chemical inputs, contributing to a rapid return on investment. |
| What setup/installation is required? | The robot navigates using RTK-GPS, LiDAR sensors, and SLAM methods, requiring initial field mapping and calibration for precise operation. Its autonomous nature means minimal ongoing setup once deployed, with remote control capabilities. |
| What maintenance is needed? | Maintenance would typically involve routine checks of the electric drive system, robotic arm, grippers, and vision system components. Battery health and diesel generator service would also be part of a regular maintenance schedule to ensure continuous operation. |
| Is training required to use this? | While the robot operates autonomously, some training would be beneficial for initial setup, monitoring its performance, interpreting data collected, and performing routine maintenance. The system is designed for user accessibility, with operators able to provide initial input and remote control. |
| What systems does it integrate with? | The La Chèvre collects data on crops and growing conditions, which can inform farmers on soil fertility and disease remediation and can predict harvest times. This data can be integrated into farm management systems to enhance decision-making and improve growing conditions. |
Pricing & Availability
Indicative price: US $500,000. Nexus Robotics also offers a robot-as-a-service (RaaS) model for US $50,000 per season, providing flexibility for different farm operations. The final pricing may vary based on specific configurations, regional availability, and any additional services required. For detailed pricing information and current availability, please contact us via the Make inquiry button on this page.
Support & Training
Nexus Robotics is committed to ensuring optimal performance and user satisfaction for the La Chèvre robot. Comprehensive support services are available to assist with initial setup, operational guidance, and technical troubleshooting. While designed for autonomous operation, training programs are offered to help farmers and their teams effectively monitor the robot's performance, interpret the valuable data it collects, and perform routine maintenance. This ensures users can maximize the robot's efficiency and integrate it seamlessly into their existing farming practices.
Product Videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppgu1nITJ6c
