The Vitirover is a cutting-edge agricultural robot designed to revolutionize vegetation management in vineyards, orchards, and various industrial green spaces. This innovative, solar-powered autonomous mower offers an eco-friendly alternative to traditional methods, eliminating the need for herbicides and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. By combining advanced robotics with sustainable practices, Vitirover helps cultivate healthier ecosystems and more efficient agricultural operations.
More than just a mower, the Vitirover acts as a vigilant ecological guardian. Its sophisticated navigation and monitoring capabilities ensure precise grass height management while simultaneously collecting crucial data on the environment. This dual functionality positions the Vitirover as a vital tool for modern, precision agriculture, supporting growers in their pursuit of sustainable and productive land management.
Key Features
The Vitirover stands out with its fully autonomous and solar-powered operation, making it a truly self-sufficient and environmentally conscious solution. Integrated solar panels provide continuous charging, enabling the robot to operate for up to 16 hours a day on its Li-ion battery, virtually eliminating fuel costs and carbon emissions. This self-reliance ensures consistent performance without human intervention for power management.
Precision is at the core of Vitirover's design, facilitated by its advanced navigation system. It employs multi-constellation GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo), inertial motion sensors, and dual RGB cameras, augmented by a Trimble MB-Two high-performance receiver with RTK/PPP positioning. This robust combination allows the robot to accurately map environments, optimize mowing paths, and avoid obstacles with an impressive precision of 1cm, ensuring thorough coverage and protection of valuable crops.
A significant advantage of the Vitirover is its commitment to chemical-free weed management. By consistently mowing under and between rows, it effectively replaces the use of synthetic herbicides like glyphosate. This approach not only safeguards soil health and biodiversity but also aligns with growing consumer demand for organic and sustainably produced goods, fostering a healthier agricultural landscape.
Furthermore, the robot's lightweight construction, weighing between 23-27 kg, is a critical feature for preserving soil integrity. Unlike heavy machinery that can lead to soil compaction and erosion, the Vitirover's gentle footprint maintains optimal soil structure, promoting better water infiltration and root development. Its robust 4-wheel drive and patented pendular rear axle also ensure exceptional all-terrain capability, allowing it to navigate steep slopes and complex, high-obstacle density environments with ease.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | 23-27 kg |
| Power Source | Integrated solar panel |
| Battery Type | Li-ion battery |
| Battery Autonomy | Up to 16 hours per day |
| Charging | Integrated solar panel recharges up to 5-6 hours autonomy per day; optional solar-powered or grid-connected charging dock for rapid recharging (8 hours charge for 16 hours work) |
| Navigation System | Multi-constellation GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo), inertial motion sensors, dual RGB cameras, Trimble MB-Two high-performance, dual-frequency receiver with RTK/PPP positioning engine |
| Mowing Height | Adjustable 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) |
| Mowing Capacity | Up to 1 hectare per robot (in approximately ten days) |
| Speed | Less than 1 km/h (around 500 meters/hour) |
| Terrain Capability | 4-wheel drive, patented pendular rear axle, designed for complex, steep, and high-obstacle density terrains |
| Control & Monitoring | Web-based management dashboard (Viticloud) for fleet monitoring, live views, remote shutoff, geofencing, anti-theft, smartphone/tablet control |
| Obstacle Avoidance Precision | Within 1 cm |
| Power Consumption | 1 watt/kg |
Use Cases & Applications
The Vitirover's versatility makes it suitable for a wide range of applications beyond traditional viticulture.
- Vineyard Maintenance: The primary use case involves precise grass management under and between vine rows. The robot's ability to navigate complex, obstacle-rich environments (7,000-12,000 obstacles per hectare) and mow close to vines without damage makes it ideal for maintaining vineyard hygiene and reducing competition for nutrients.
- Orchard Maintenance: Similar to vineyards, Vitirover can effectively manage vegetation in orchards, contributing to healthier fruit trees by controlling weeds and reducing the need for chemical sprays.
- Photovoltaic Park & Solar Power Plant Vegetation Management: The robot is highly effective in maintaining vegetation in solar farms, preventing overgrowth that could shade panels and reduce energy production. Its ability to navigate around sensitive equipment makes it a safe and efficient solution.
- Infrastructure Maintenance (Railways, Motorways): Vitirover can be deployed for vegetation control along railway lines, verges, and motorway edges and medians, where precise and autonomous mowing is crucial for safety and operational efficiency.
- Industrial Sites with High Obstacle Density: Its precision and obstacle avoidance capabilities make it suitable for maintaining green spaces within industrial complexes, particularly those with numerous sensitive obstacles like high-voltage transformers or airport tarmacs.
Strengths & Weaknesses
| Strengths ✅ | Weaknesses ⚠️ |
|---|---|
| 100% Autonomous & Solar-Powered: Offers complete self-sufficiency, eliminating fuel costs and emissions, contributing to environmental sustainability. | Low Speed: Operates at less than 1 km/h, meaning a single robot has a limited daily coverage area. |
| Chemical-Free Weed Management: Replaces herbicides, promoting healthier soil, biodiversity, and organic farming practices. | Capacity per Robot: Each robot covers up to 1 hectare in approximately ten days, requiring multiple units for larger areas. |
| Lightweight Design: Prevents soil compaction and gullying, preserving soil structure and health. | Initial Investment: The purchase price for a robot and charging station is a significant upfront cost. |
| Precision Mowing (1cm): Navigates extremely close to obstacles without damage, ensuring thorough vegetation control. | Reliance on Solar: While self-sufficient, prolonged periods of cloudy weather could impact charging efficiency, potentially requiring the optional charging dock more frequently. |
| Advanced GNSS Navigation: Multi-constellation GNSS, inertial sensors, and dual cameras provide highly accurate mapping and obstacle avoidance. | |
| Smart Fleet Monitoring (Viticloud): Comprehensive web-based platform for remote control, monitoring, and data collection. | |
| Robust All-Terrain Capability: 4-wheel drive and patented pendular rear axle handle complex, steep, and high-obstacle density terrains. |
Benefits for Farmers
Farmers adopting Vitirover can realize substantial benefits across several key areas. Economically, it leads to significant cost reductions by eliminating the need for expensive herbicides and minimizing manual labor hours dedicated to weeding. This directly impacts operational budgets, improving profitability. Environmentally, the Vitirover promotes sustainable agriculture by eradicating chemical usage, fostering healthier soils, and preserving biodiversity. Its lightweight design also prevents soil compaction, which is crucial for long-term soil health and productivity.
Operationally, the autonomous nature of the Vitirover frees up valuable human resources, allowing farmers to reallocate labor to more strategic tasks. The precision mowing ensures optimal vineyard or orchard health by controlling competition from weeds without damaging crops. Furthermore, the robot's data collection capabilities contribute to a more informed and precise approach to farming, enabling better decision-making regarding vineyard health and resource management, ultimately aiming for improved yields and crop quality.
Integration & Compatibility
The Vitirover is designed to integrate seamlessly into modern farm operations, complementing existing practices rather than overhauling them. It primarily serves as an autonomous solution for under-row and inter-row vegetation management, directly replacing chemical spraying and manual weeding. Its operation can be scheduled and monitored remotely, fitting into flexible work routines. The data collected by the robot, such as vineyard health metrics and operational efficiency, can be utilized within broader precision agriculture frameworks, providing valuable insights that enhance overall farm management strategies. The web-based Viticloud platform ensures accessibility and control from any internet-connected device, making it compatible with existing digital farm management tools and mobile workflows.
Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How does this product work? | The Vitirover robot operates autonomously using solar power. It navigates vineyards and other terrains with multi-constellation GNSS, inertial sensors, and dual cameras to precisely mow grass under and between rows. Users manage and monitor the robot or fleet via a web-based dashboard on a computer or smartphone. |
| What is the typical ROI? | The Vitirover offers significant ROI by eliminating herbicide costs, reducing manual labor expenses for weeding, and preventing soil compaction. Its data collection capabilities contribute to precision agriculture, potentially improving vineyard health and yield over time, while promoting sustainable practices. |
| What setup/installation is required? | Initial setup involves mapping the designated mowing area, such as a vineyard, using the robot's advanced GNSS capabilities. Boundaries and operational parameters are then configured through the intuitive web-based management dashboard, requiring minimal on-site intervention. |
| What maintenance is needed? | Vitirover robots are designed for low maintenance. Regular checks of the mowing blades for wear and tear are recommended, along with ensuring the solar panels are clean for optimal charging efficiency. Software updates are typically managed remotely through the Viticloud platform. |
| Is training required to use this? | While the Vitirover is highly autonomous, basic training is recommended for optimal use of the Viticloud management dashboard. This includes understanding how to set mowing zones, monitor performance metrics, and utilize remote control features for emergency situations. |
| What systems does it integrate with? | The Vitirover integrates seamlessly into existing agricultural operations by providing an autonomous solution for weed management that replaces chemical treatments and manual labor. Its data collection features can complement precision agriculture systems by offering insights into vineyard health and operational efficiency. |
| What is the operating speed of the robot? | The Vitirover operates at a very low speed, typically less than 1 km/h, which is approximately 500 meters per hour. This deliberate slow pace allows for precise mowing and gentle interaction with obstacles. |
| Can the Vitirover operate on challenging terrains? | Yes, the Vitirover is engineered with 4-wheel drive and a patented pendular rear axle, enabling it to handle complex, steep slopes, and terrains with a high density of obstacles, such as those found in many vineyards. |
Pricing & Availability
Indicative price: just under €10,000 for the robot with a charging station. Vitirover also offers a 'Robot-as-a-Service' (VAAS) model, with annual plans starting from €2100 per robot without assistance, or €3100 per robot with full assistance. Pricing can vary based on specific configurations, fleet size, and regional factors. For detailed pricing and availability information tailored to your specific needs, please contact us via the Make inquiry button on this page.
Support & Training
Vitirover provides comprehensive support to ensure optimal performance and user satisfaction. This includes access to the Viticloud management platform for remote monitoring and diagnostics, as well as assistance with any operational queries. Training resources are available to help users become proficient with the robot's control interface and maintenance procedures, ensuring a smooth integration into their agricultural practices.
