The InsightTRAC Rover represents a significant advancement in agricultural technology, offering an autonomous robotic solution for a critical orchard management task: mummy nut removal. Developed by InsightTRAC, this innovative machine addresses the challenges of winter sanitation in orchards, particularly in almond cultivation, by employing cutting-edge robotics, machine learning, and precision targeting. Its robust design allows it to navigate diverse terrains and operate consistently regardless of weather conditions, providing a reliable and efficient alternative to traditional methods.
This agricultural robot is engineered to enhance orchard health and productivity by meticulously identifying and eliminating mummy nuts, which are primary hosts for pests like the navel orangeworm. By automating this labor-intensive process, the InsightTRAC Rover not only reduces operational costs but also provides invaluable data that empowers farmers with deeper insights into their orchard's condition, fostering more informed decision-making and sustainable farming practices.
Key Features
The InsightTRAC Rover offers unparalleled capabilities for orchard management, centered around its autonomous operation and precise mummy removal. It is built on a track system that allows it to navigate any terrain and weather, ensuring consistent performance even in challenging conditions such as rain, shine, or fog. Equipped with floodlights, the rover can operate around the clock, offering 24/7 functionality to maximize efficiency during critical periods like winter sanitation.
At its core, the robot utilizes advanced machine learning and sight-tracking technology to accurately identify mummy nuts on trees. Once identified, it employs a biodegradable pellet gun to precisely remove these mummies from distances up to 30 feet, making no contact with the trees themselves. This method is highly efficient, capable of removing an average of 15 mummies per tree in less than a second. Furthermore, the rover is battery-operated with a smart power management system; when batteries run low, a generator automatically kicks on for approximately 30-40 minutes to recharge them, ensuring continuous, uninterrupted operation.
Beyond physical removal, the InsightTRAC Rover is a powerful data collection tool. It gathers in-depth orchard data, including heat maps of mummy locations, which provide growers with critical insights into infestation rates and patterns over time. This data is instrumental in helping farmers optimize crop management strategies, identify problem areas, and make data-driven decisions to enhance overall yield and profitability.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (W x L x H) | 3.5 ft (1.1m) wide, 5 ft (1.5m) long, 6 ft (1.8m) tall |
| Weight | 2,500 pounds (1134 kg) |
| Navigation System | Autonomous with GPS and lidar technology, uses pre-planned routes |
| Mummy Removal Method | Pellet gun shooting biodegradable pellets |
| Mummy Removal Height | Up to 30 feet |
| Power Source | Battery-operated with backup generator |
| Generator Recharge Time | 30-40 minutes (approximate) |
| Operation Capability | 24/7, day and night |
| Weather Capability | All conditions (rain, shine, fog) |
| Coverage Capacity | Over 700 acres (130 trees/acre) in 60 days |
| Mummy Removal Rate | Average 15 mummies per tree, <1 second per mummy |
| Accuracy | Up to 30 feet |
| Tree Contact | None (only with mummies) |
Use Cases & Applications
The InsightTRAC Rover serves several critical applications within modern orchard management, primarily focused on enhancing tree health and operational efficiency. One of its main use cases is the robotic removal of mummy nuts from orchard trees to prevent pest infestations, specifically targeting the navel orangeworm in almonds. By eliminating these overwintering sites, the rover drastically reduces pest populations.
Another key application is ensuring winter sanitation in orchards to meet strict industry standards, such as achieving a target of two or less mummies per tree for almonds. This proactive approach is vital for maintaining crop quality and maximizing yields. The robot also excels in collecting in-depth orchard data, including heat maps of mummy locations, which provides growers with valuable insights into infestation rates and patterns over time, enabling more precise and timely interventions.
Finally, the InsightTRAC Rover significantly reduces the need for manual labor for mummy removal. This task is traditionally time-consuming, energy-intensive, costly, and highly dependent on weather conditions, making the autonomous robot a highly efficient and cost-effective alternative.
Strengths & Weaknesses
| Strengths ✅ | Weaknesses ⚠️ |
|---|---|
| Autonomous 24/7 operation in all weather conditions (rain, shine, fog, night). | Specific pricing information is not publicly available, requiring direct inquiry. |
| Precise mummy nut removal using biodegradable pellets from up to 30 feet, without tree contact. | Primarily focused on almond orchards currently, though expansion to other crops is planned. |
| Utilizes advanced machine learning and sight-tracking for accurate identification and targeting. | Initial investment for outright purchase can be substantial, though cost-effective long-term. |
| Collects valuable orchard data, including mummy heat maps, for informed management decisions. | |
| Significantly reduces reliance on manual labor, saving time and costs. | |
| Helps achieve industry winter sanitation standards, improving crop health and yield. |
Benefits for Farmers
The InsightTRAC Rover delivers substantial benefits for farmers, directly impacting their operational efficiency, crop health, and profitability. By automating the labor-intensive task of mummy removal, it leads to significant time savings and a reduction in labor costs, freeing up valuable human resources for other critical farm operations. The robot's ability to operate 24/7 in all weather conditions ensures that winter sanitation can be completed efficiently and on schedule, regardless of external factors, which is crucial for meeting industry standards and preventing pest outbreaks.
Improved yield and crop health are direct outcomes of the InsightTRAC Rover's effective mummy removal, as it drastically reduces the breeding grounds for pests like the navel orangeworm. This proactive pest management contributes to healthier trees and higher quality harvests. Furthermore, the comprehensive data collected by the rover, including heat maps of mummy locations, provides farmers with unprecedented insights into their orchards. This data-driven approach enables optimized resource allocation, targeted interventions, and long-term strategic planning, ultimately leading to increased yield and profit margins.
Integration & Compatibility
The InsightTRAC Rover is designed to integrate seamlessly into existing orchard management practices by providing an autonomous solution for a historically manual task. Its navigation system, based on GPS and lidar technology, utilizes pre-planned routes, allowing it to operate independently within defined orchard boundaries. The data collected by the rover, such as mummy location heat maps, can be used by farmers to gain a better understanding of their orchard's health and pest pressure, informing broader crop management systems and decision-making processes. While specific integrations with other farm management software or hardware are not detailed, its ability to provide actionable data complements existing agricultural analytics and planning tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How does this product work? | The InsightTRAC Rover autonomously navigates orchards using GPS and lidar, identifying mummy nuts with machine learning and sight-tracking. It removes them by shooting biodegradable pellets from up to 30 feet away, without contacting the trees. |
| What crops can it be used for? | Primarily designed for almond orchards in California and Australia, with plans for future expansion to other crops and seasons. |
| What are its weather capabilities? | The robot is built to operate in all weather conditions, including rain, shine, and fog, and can work 24/7, even at night, using integrated lights. |
| What data does the InsightTRAC Rover collect? | It collects in-depth orchard data, including heat maps of mummy locations, providing insights into infestation rates and helping farmers manage crops and identify patterns over time. |
| How is the InsightTRAC Rover powered? | It is battery-operated, with a backup generator that automatically activates for 30-40 minutes to recharge the batteries when low, enabling continuous 24/7 operation. |
| How does it benefit farmers? | The rover reduces the need for manual labor, helps meet winter sanitation standards, prevents pest infestations like navel orangeworm, and provides valuable data for proactive orchard management, ultimately improving yield and profit. |
| What are the purchasing options for the InsightTRAC Rover? | Growers have two options: purchasing the machine outright or utilizing it as a service. Most farms choose to buy their own for long-term cost-effectiveness. |
Pricing & Availability
Specific pricing for the InsightTRAC Rover is not publicly available. Growers have two primary options: purchasing the machine outright or acquiring it as a service. While the outright purchase may represent a significant initial investment, it is generally considered more cost-effective in the long run for most farms. For detailed information on pricing, availability, and to discuss the best option for your specific orchard needs, please contact us via the Make inquiry button on this page.
Support & Training
While specific details on support and training programs are not publicly disclosed, it is typical for advanced agricultural robotics solutions like the InsightTRAC Rover to come with comprehensive support. This often includes initial setup and calibration assistance, operator training to ensure efficient use of the autonomous system and data interpretation, and ongoing technical support for maintenance and troubleshooting. Farmers can expect guidance on optimizing the rover's routes, understanding the collected data, and performing routine maintenance to ensure long-term performance and reliability.
