Autonomous precision irrigation to save up to 30% water

Since its initiation in 2020, Osiris Agriculture has been working on developing an autonomous precision irrigation solution. That currently helps save 10% water but the company aims for at least 30%. And this is how they plan to achieve that.

Osiris Agriculture, a farmer founded startup from the North of France, is developing an autonomous solution called Oscar for a typical niche application: hose reel irrigation. Since 2022, it has been deploying a limited number of prototypes in Illies in the North of France, where potatoes are a prominent crop. Until last year, 2 units were operational all season long and by the end of this year, Osiris plans to launch their Oscar commercially.

24 – 40 metres wide

Oscar combines autonomous RTK-gps navigation with water powered electric propulsion, hose reel technology and 24 up to 40 metres spray/watering booms. The irrigation robot uses the sprayer tramlines to irrigate the crop starting from the headland with the main water line. As soon as a tramline is completed, Oscar drives backwards in order to return to the headland to continue its journey in the next tramline. Oscar’s hose measures up to 600 metres and determines how many tramlines can be completed without reconnecting the hose to the main water line.

It travels between 100 and 600 metres per hour and by means of varying the forward speed, Oscar can apply water variable rate. The incoming flow of 30 to 60 m3 water per hour is used to generate the electricity required to propel the vehicle. The track width currently ranges from 1.8 to 2.7 metres.

Targeting 30% less water

Osiris’ ultimate goal is to decrease the amount of water needed for irrigation by 30% without affecting the crop and yield. So far, they have managed to save 10% on water usage compared to ‘standard’ hose reel systems by reducing the amount of water that evaporates and drifts. Stepping up from 10 to 30% water savings is due to be achieved by means of using plant recognition technology. While potatoes are the crop Osiris started its journey in, the company also targets beans, carrots, onions and spinach. And not only for irrigation with Oscar, also for fertigation and crop protection against diseases and fungi.

Oscar is due to be launched commercially later this year for prices varying from € 200,000 to €300,000.