Robot: Land-A2
Task(s): spraying, fertiliser application, monitoring, payload transport, mowing, towing, et cetera
Development start: 2020 (based on earlier developments)
Pricing: Starting from €70,000 (US $73.759 according to the exchange rate of 01-11-2023)
Manufacturer:
Description
The robot is a multipurpose tool carrier with a patent pending modular design that allows it to be configured easily for multiple applications while still keeping its payload body balanced out on rough terrain. Replacing two centrally located mounting rods on which payloads can be mounted, allows the robot’s wheelbase width to be changed as desired. Thanks to its spring damped suspension and its centrally rotating payload area, vibrations are reduced to a minimum. The robot uses a battery plug system for fast and easy in field battery replacement and a 4×4 drive system where each wheel can be controlled independently, allowing it to drive in all directions.
Drive train type
Electric 4×4 with four steering motors.
Characteristics
The robot uses specially designed motors that deliver a nominal torque of 100 Nm (max 320 Nm) per wheel. This makes the robot very powerful for its small size and weight. At nominal torque, the robot can drive around 6 km/h max. The robot can carry payloads up to 200 kg for a centrally mounted payload/implement. Traction power is sufficient for most monitoring and crop care activities. The robot is not suitable for heavy tillage (ploughing or deep cultivation).
Navigation system
The robot will be able to navigate autonomously in 2024, fully based on a dual antenna RTK-gps.
Starting from instructions of the user in a GUI, the robot will interpolate the path between a set of gps positions and navigate smoothly between them.
New for 2023 are the use of multiple cameras to perceive its environment and ensure obstacle avoidance.
This setup allows for visual navigation on top of GPS, which improves navigating within tree rows or in GPS-challenging conditions.
In case obstacles would come too close, the robot would slow down and stop. Optional AI-based classification of obstacles is available to reduce false-positive detections.
Onboard sensors use active infrared or white lighting (e.g., LiDAR and optional cameras) to operate in low light conditions.
Specifications
| Name/type robot | Land-A2 (BE) |
| Dimensions | Adjustable length from 0.7 m to more than 4 m, width 1.5 m, height 1.0 m |
| Turning radius | Zero-turn |
| Weight | 300 kg depending on configuration and sensor package |
| Energy source | Electric, 1 to 4 batteries each: 48V 20Ah/960Wh |
| Energy stock/range | Between 4 and 16 hours autonomy depending on configuration and number of batteries |
| Driveline | Electric 4×4 with 4 steering motors |
| Navigation system | Dual antenna RTK-gps, LiDAR sensors to detect obstacles in the vicinity of the robot |
| Output capacity | Purely depends on the application and implement. For instance, a 1.5 m working width at 3 km/h theoretically leads to 0.45 ha/h. For a tree monitoring application, depending on the density, the processing capacity of the robot can be between 2 and 5 hours/ha. |
| Pricing | Starting from €70,000 (US $73.759 according to the exchange rate of 01-11-2023) |
| Availability (countries) | Belgium, France, Germany, Luxemburg, The Netherlands |
| Units operational (total end 2023) | 1 |
