Ant Robotics Valera represents a significant leap forward in agricultural automation, offering an innovative autonomous robot specifically designed to revolutionize material handling and logistics in both field and warehouse environments. This cutting-edge solution addresses critical challenges faced by modern agriculture, such as labor shortages, increasing operational costs, and the demand for higher efficiency. By automating the repetitive and physically demanding task of transporting harvested crops, Valera allows human workers to focus on more skilled activities, thereby optimizing resource allocation and improving overall farm productivity.
Built for the rigors of agricultural settings, Valera combines advanced robotics with practical design, ensuring reliable performance under diverse conditions. Its ability to operate without external infrastructure requirements makes it a highly adaptable and accessible technology for farms looking to embrace automation without extensive upfront modifications to their existing operations. The integration of solar power further underscores its commitment to sustainable and cost-effective farming practices, offering continuous operation throughout the season without the need for frequent recharging.
Key Features
At the core of Valera's design is its highly sophisticated autonomous navigation system. Unlike many robotic solutions, Valera operates entirely without GPS or pre-mapped routes, instead relying on state-of-the-art optical recognition technologies and an intelligent stereo camera system. This allows it to generate and adapt its navigation path in real-time, seamlessly moving through fields, along rows, identifying optimal routes, and even following pickers while avoiding obstacles and ensuring safe passage of goods.
Beyond navigation, Valera boasts a robust dual drive system, featuring two independently driven electric wheels with anti-slip control and an electronic differential function. This powerful configuration enables it to handle a substantial payload of up to 650 kg of harvested crops, making it a true workhorse in the field. This capacity, combined with its high maneuverability and extremely short turning radius, ensures efficient collection and transport of produce from the point of harvest to central collection points.
One of Valera's most compelling attributes is its integrated solar panel system. This innovative power source allows the robot to operate continuously throughout the entire harvesting season without requiring further recharging. This not only significantly reduces operational costs and energy dependency but also ensures uninterrupted workflow, maximizing uptime and productivity during critical harvesting periods.
Safety and cooperative human-machine interaction are central to Valera's design. Equipped with intelligent industrial cameras and Nearfield Sensors, it provides comprehensive hazardous area monitoring and real-time human recognition. These features enable Valera to detect obstacles and people, ensuring safe operation alongside human workers. Furthermore, it incorporates automatic shutdown mechanisms during loading and easily accessible mechanical emergency stops, prioritizing the well-being of farm personnel.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (L x B x H) | 2.0 m x 3.5 m x 2.0 m |
| Weight | ~ 250 kg |
| Max Speed | 3 km/h |
| Payload Capacity | Up to 650 kg of harvested crops |
| Drive System | Dual Drive System, two electric drive wheels driven independently with anti-slip control and electronic differential function |
| Navigation Technology | Autonomous navigation over fields and along rows without GPS and maps, using state-of-the-art optical recognition technologies, intelligent optical detection system (Stereo Camera) for locating obstacles and people, Nearfield Sensors for hazardous area monitoring |
| Power Source | Solar panel system for continuous operation throughout the entire season without further recharging |
| Safety Features | Nearfield Sensors for hazardous area monitoring & automatic shutdown during loading, Mechanical Emergency Stop (tilt sensors and easily accessible switches) |
| Maneuverability | High maneuverability and extremely short turning radius |
Use Cases & Applications
Ant Robotics Valera excels in several key agricultural and logistics applications, proving its versatility and efficiency:
- Autonomous Crop Transport from Field to Collection Points: Valera is primarily used to transport freshly harvested fruits and vegetables directly from pickers in the field to designated central collection points. This eliminates the need for manual carrying, significantly reducing physical strain on workers and speeding up the collection process.
- Streamlining Warehouse and Logistics Operations: Beyond the field, Valera is adept at automating material handling and transportation tasks within warehouses. It can move goods efficiently between different stations, optimizing internal logistics and reducing reliance on manual labor or traditional forklifts for repetitive routes.
- Reducing Unproductive Times and Labor Costs: By taking over the repetitive transport duties, Valera drastically cuts down on unproductive times for pickers who would otherwise spend time walking to drop-off points. This directly translates to increased harvesting time and a more efficient workforce, leading to substantial labor cost savings.
- Increasing Harvesting Productivity: Farms utilizing Valera can experience a significant boost in productivity, with increases ranging from 30% to 40% per picker. This is achieved by allowing pickers to focus solely on harvesting, while the robot handles the heavy lifting and transportation.
- Operation in Diverse Crop Environments: Valera is designed to operate precisely over various row crops and dams, as well as in challenging environments like tunnels and scaffolding. This adaptability makes it suitable for a wide range of specialty crops, including strawberries, asparagus (white & green), and various vegetables like cabbage and pumpkin.
Strengths & Weaknesses
| Strengths ✅ | Weaknesses ⚠️ |
|---|---|
| Full Autonomy & Infrastructure Independence: Operates completely independently without GPS, maps, or external infrastructure, allowing seamless integration into existing farm processes. | Limited Top Speed: A maximum speed of 3 km/h might be a limiting factor for operations requiring faster transport over longer distances, impacting overall throughput in very large fields. |
| Significant Productivity Boost: Increases productivity per picker by 30-40% by automating crop transport, reducing manual labor and unproductive walking distances. | Initial Investment: While not publicly disclosed, advanced robotic systems typically represent a significant initial capital expenditure for farms, which may require careful financial planning. |
| Sustainable & Continuous Operation: Solar-powered system enables continuous operation throughout the entire season without external recharging, promoting energy independence and sustainability. | Weight and Ground Pressure: At approximately 250 kg, its weight might require consideration for very soft or highly uneven ground conditions, although its robust drive system is designed for varied terrain. |
| Enhanced Safety & Human-Robot Collaboration: Features real-time human recognition, intelligent cameras, and nearfield sensors for obstacle avoidance, hazardous area monitoring, and safe cooperation with human workers. | Specialized Use Case Focus: Primarily designed for the transport of harvested crops from pickers to collection points, its application might be specialized rather than a general-purpose farm vehicle. |
| High Payload Capacity & Robust Design: Capable of carrying up to 650 kg of harvested crops and designed for reliable operation under severe field conditions. | |
| Versatile Crop & Environment Adaptability: Suitable for a wide range of row and hill crops, including strawberries, asparagus, and vegetables, and can operate in tunnels and scaffolding. |
Benefits for Farmers
Ant Robotics Valera offers a multitude of tangible benefits for farmers seeking to modernize and optimize their operations. The most immediate impact is a substantial increase in labor efficiency and productivity. By automating the arduous task of transporting harvested crops, Valera frees up pickers to focus solely on harvesting, directly leading to a 30-40% boost in output per worker. This not only addresses labor shortages but also significantly reduces labor costs associated with unproductive walking times and physical strain. Furthermore, the reduction in physical exertion for workers contributes to improved morale and reduced risk of injury.
The solar-powered operation provides significant cost savings by eliminating fuel expenses and reducing reliance on external energy sources for recharging. This also aligns with sustainable farming practices, reducing the carbon footprint of agricultural operations. Valera's ability to operate without requiring new infrastructure means a lower entry barrier for farms into field robotics, allowing them to leverage advanced technology without extensive upfront investment in site modifications. Its robust design ensures continuous and reliable operation even under challenging field conditions, minimizing downtime and maximizing throughput during critical harvesting periods.
Integration & Compatibility
One of the standout features of Ant Robotics Valera is its exceptional ease of integration into existing farm operations. The robot is engineered to operate completely independently of any external infrastructure requirements or data sources. This means that farms do not need to install GPS systems, build new navigation beacons, or modify their existing field layouts or processes. Valera generates its own navigation path at start-up and adapts dynamically during operation, making it a plug-and-play solution for agricultural logistics. This independence ensures that current harvesting workflows and farm management systems can remain in place, minimizing disruption and facilitating a smooth transition to robotic assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How does this product work? | Ant Robotics Valera navigates autonomously using state-of-the-art optical recognition technologies and stereo cameras, creating a navigation path at startup and adapting it in real-time to follow pickers. It efficiently transports harvested crops from the field to central collection points, operating continuously via its integrated solar power system. |
| What is the typical ROI? | Valera significantly enhances productivity per picker by 30-40% by eliminating unproductive walking distances and reducing physical strain. This automation of material handling directly translates into substantial labor cost savings and increased harvest efficiency, leading to a rapid and impactful return on investment for agricultural operations. |
| What setup/installation is required? | Minimal setup is required as Valera operates completely independently of external infrastructure or data sources like GPS or maps. It generates its navigation path autonomously at startup, meaning no new infrastructure needs to be built, and existing farm processes can remain entirely in place. |
| What maintenance is needed? | While specific maintenance schedules are not publicly detailed, Valera is designed for continuous and reliable operation under severe conditions. Routine checks of its optical sensors, drive system, and solar panels would likely be recommended to ensure optimal performance and longevity throughout the harvesting season. |
| Is training required to use this? | Given Valera's autonomous capabilities and emphasis on cooperative human-machine interaction, training would primarily focus on understanding its operational parameters, safety protocols, and how to effectively integrate it into existing harvesting workflows to maximize its benefits and ensure safe operation alongside human workers. |
| What systems does it integrate with? | Ant Robotics Valera is engineered for complete independence, requiring no integration with external farm management systems, GPS infrastructure, or other data sources. It fits seamlessly into existing agricultural processes without needing modifications or complex compatibility setups with current farm technologies. |
Pricing & Availability
Pricing for the Ant Robotics Valera is not publicly available and is typically provided upon request or through a personalized quote. The final cost may vary depending on specific configurations, any additional implements required, and regional factors. For detailed pricing information and current availability, please contact us via the Make inquiry button on this page.
Support & Training
Ant Robotics is committed to ensuring the successful adoption and operation of Valera. While specific details on support and training programs are not publicly listed, it is expected that comprehensive support will be provided to help farmers integrate Valera into their operations, understand its functionalities, and maintain its optimal performance. This typically includes technical assistance, access to documentation, and guidance on operational best practices to maximize the robot's efficiency and longevity.
