AVO by Ecorobotix represents a significant leap forward in sustainable agriculture, offering an intelligent and eco-friendly solution for crop management. This autonomous robot is engineered to revolutionize weeding and crop protection by leveraging cutting-edge technology to drastically reduce chemical usage and operational costs. Designed for precision and efficiency, AVO empowers farmers to enhance productivity while simultaneously minimizing their environmental footprint.
At its core, AVO is a solar-powered robotic platform capable of navigating fields independently, identifying individual plants, and applying treatments with unparalleled accuracy. Its development is focused on providing a reliable, tireless, and highly effective tool that addresses modern agricultural challenges, from labor shortages to the imperative for more sustainable farming practices.
Key Features
AVO's autonomous operation is powered by a sophisticated multi-camera vision system integrated with advanced Artificial Intelligence and machine learning algorithms. This allows the robot to perform precise plant-by-plant recognition, effectively distinguishing between crops and weeds with a success rate exceeding 85%. This intelligent detection forms the foundation for its targeted treatment capabilities.
The robot boasts an ultra-high precision spot spraying system, equipped with 52 equidistant nozzles on a height-adjustable ramp. This patented technology enables micro-dose application, ensuring that herbicides, pesticides, or liquid fertilizers are applied only where needed, leading to a remarkable reduction of 80-95% in chemical usage compared to traditional broadcast spraying methods.
Designed for sustainability and efficiency, AVO is solar-powered and features rechargeable, interchangeable batteries. This robust power system allows the robot to operate for up to 10 hours per day, extending its daily coverage to as much as 10 hectares, including the flexibility for night work. Its energy independence underscores its commitment to eco-friendly farming.
Navigation is handled with centimeter-level precision through a combination of GPS RTK positioning and visual navigation. Complementing this, AVO's four-wheel drive system with independent steering provides exceptional maneuverability, allowing it to clear obstacles, operate on varying slopes, and achieve a short turning radius, thereby minimizing non-treatable field areas.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Operation | Autonomous |
| Power Source | Solar energy with rechargeable and interchangeable batteries |
| Daily Coverage | Up to 10 hectares (including night work) |
| Working Hours | Up to 10 hours per day |
| Navigation | GPS RTK positioning and visual navigation |
| Weed Detection | Multi-camera vision system with AI and machine learning (over 85% success rate) |
| Spraying System | 52 equidistant nozzles on a height-adjustable ramp, micro-dose application |
| Mobility | Four-wheel drive system with independent steering for high maneuverability and short turning radius |
| Weight | 130 kg (indicative for an earlier generation) |
| Work Rate (Average) | 0.6 hectares per hour |
| Herbicide Reduction | 80-95% |
| Control & Monitoring | Mobile app (Android/iOS) and desktop web app |
| Safety Features | LIDAR & ultra-sound sensors for obstacle/human detection, safety bumper |
Use Cases & Applications
AVO is a versatile tool with numerous applications across diverse farming operations. Its primary use case is autonomous weeding in plane fields and row crops, where it precisely identifies and sprays weeds with micro-doses of herbicide, preserving crop health and optimizing yield.
Beyond targeted weed control, AVO can perform full surface spraying for pre-treatments, preparing fields efficiently. It is also adept at selective spraying of crops with insecticides, fungicides, or liquid fertilizers, ensuring that valuable inputs are delivered precisely to the plants that need them, minimizing waste and maximizing efficacy.
Farmers can utilize AVO to significantly reduce their reliance on chemical inputs, contributing to more sustainable practices and healthier produce. This reduction in chemical usage also translates to lower operational costs and decreased environmental impact. Furthermore, by automating weeding and spraying tasks, AVO helps address agricultural labor shortages, reducing manual labor costs by up to 50%.
Strengths & Weaknesses
| Strengths ✅ | Weaknesses ⚠️ |
|---|---|
| Ultra-high precision spot spraying, reducing herbicide use by 80-95%. | Initial investment cost, though a 5-year ROI is projected. |
| Fully autonomous operation, reducing labor costs by up to 50%. | Work rate of 0.6 ha per hour may be slower for very large-scale broadacre applications compared to traditional methods. |
| Solar-powered with interchangeable batteries, enabling extended daily operation and night work. | Primarily designed for plane fields and row crops, potentially limiting use in highly irregular terrain. |
| AI and machine learning for accurate plant-by-plant recognition (over 85% success rate). | The weight (130 kg) is for an "earlier generation," suggesting potential for future changes in specifications. |
| Significantly reduces environmental impact and CO2 emissions through chemical reduction. | |
| Highly maneuverable with four-wheel drive and independent steering for tight spaces. |
Benefits for Farmers
AVO delivers substantial business value and operational benefits to farmers. The most direct impact is a dramatic reduction in chemical input costs, with herbicide use cut by 80-95%. This not only saves money but also leads to healthier crops by minimizing phytotoxicity from broadcast spraying.
Labor costs are significantly reduced, potentially by up to 50%, as AVO automates tasks traditionally performed manually or with tractor-based sprayers. This addresses critical labor shortages and frees up farm personnel for other essential duties.
Furthermore, the precision of AVO's spraying leads to improved crop yields and quality. By targeting only weeds, the robot ensures that crops are not stressed by unnecessary chemical exposure, allowing them to flourish. The reduction in chemical runoff and CO2 emissions also contributes to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly farming operation.
Integration & Compatibility
AVO is designed to integrate seamlessly into existing farm operations. It utilizes GPS RTK positioning for high-precision navigation, a technology commonly found in modern agricultural machinery. Field and crop data from other GPS-enabled farm systems can be easily input into AVO's desktop web application, allowing for efficient mission planning and execution.
The robot's autonomous nature means it can operate independently, reducing the need for constant human intervention. Its control and monitoring are managed through a user-friendly mobile app and a web portal, providing farmers with real-time insights and control over their operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How does this product work? | AVO employs a multi-camera vision system combined with AI and machine learning to accurately detect and differentiate between crops and weeds. It then autonomously navigates the field using GPS RTK and visual navigation, applying micro-doses of herbicide with ultra-high precision spot spraying only to the identified weeds. |
| What is the typical ROI? | Farmers can anticipate their investment in AVO to pay off within approximately 5 years. The system is also reported to be 30% cheaper to operate than standard sprayers, primarily due to significant reductions in chemical and labor costs (up to 50%). |
| What setup/installation is required? | AVO operates autonomously, requiring an initial setup that involves defining field boundaries and crop line information via a desktop web app. The software then generates an optimized navigation path. Its solar-powered design minimizes complex external infrastructure needs. |
| What maintenance is needed? | Routine maintenance for AVO includes checking and cleaning the 52 spraying nozzles, monitoring the health of the interchangeable batteries, and general inspection of the robotic components. Software updates are also provided periodically to enhance performance and crop recognition algorithms. |
| Is training required to use this? | While AVO is designed for autonomous operation, users will require training for initial field mission setup, monitoring the robot's progress and performance, and managing collected data. The system features an intuitive user interface accessible via a mobile app and web portal. |
| What systems does it integrate with? | AVO utilizes GPS RTK positioning for centimeter-level accuracy and can integrate field and crop data generated from other GPS-enabled farm systems via its web application. It operates independently but is designed to fit into modern farm operations. |
| What crops can AVO treat? | AVO is suitable for a wide range of row crops, meadows, and intercropping cultures, including specific examples like sugar beets, rape seed, green beans, onions, cotton, and corn. Its software can be updated to treat additional crops as new algorithms are developed. |
Pricing & Availability
Indicative price: 90,000 EUR (as of 2022). Pricing can vary based on specific configurations, regional availability, and any additional implements or services. For current pricing and availability tailored to your farming needs, please contact us via the Make inquiry button on this page.
Support & Training
Ecorobotix is committed to providing comprehensive support and training to ensure farmers can maximize the benefits of AVO. This includes guidance on initial setup, operation, and ongoing maintenance. Software updates are regularly released to improve performance, add new crop recognition algorithms, and enhance user experience. Support resources are available to assist with any operational queries or technical assistance required.
