Robot: Rover
Task(s): Robotic mummy removal in orchards
Development start: 2019
Pricing: US $210.000 (€212.800 according to the exchange rate of 22-09-2022)
Manufacturer:
Description
The autonomous Rover travels through the orchard, identifies mummies, and safely removes them with biodegradable pellets. Pests like the navel orange worm burrow inside of the mummies in the wintertime, and in spring emerge to damage the quality and the yield of next year’s crop. The Rover is not weather dependent and runs 24/7 for 2 days autonomously. The robot also collects data that helps the grower to manage the orchard with information on quantity, location, and the variety of mummy nuts removed. The Rover is available for almond orchards but InsightTRAC plans to shift to other nut crops next.
Drive train type
Fully electric. The Rover has two batteries, and an on-board generator supplying extra power. The generator will automatically turn itself on to charge the batteries when they run low, and will turn itself off after 30 minutes.
Characteristics
The Rover robot is fully autonomous and can remove a ummy in under a second. It can cover over 700 acres in 60 days (with an average of 15 mummies per tree and 130 trees per acre). The robot can work in all weather and does not have any contact with trees. It moves down the rows on rubberised tracks, and shoots the mummies out of the trees with biodegradable pellets.
Navigation system
The Rover uses a pre-planned route system with gps and LiDAR.
Specifications
| Name robot | InsightTRAC Rover (US) |
| Dimensions | 3.5 ft (1.1m) wide, 5ft (1.5m) long and 6 ft (1.8m) tall |
| Turning radius | Zero-turn |
| Weight | 2,500 pounds (1,134 kg) |
| Energy source | It is a fully electric machine, with two batteries and an on-board diesel generator that can supply extra power |
| Energy stock/range | The machine can do its work 24 hours per day for two days without human interaction |
| Driveline | Electric |
| Output capacity | 700 acres in 60 days (with 130 trees per acre and 15 mummies per tree) |
| Pricing | US $210.000 (€212.800 according to the exchange rate of 22-09-2022) |
| Availability (countries) | The Rover is available in the US and Australia in 2023 |
| Units operational (total end 2022) | The first units will be operational in December 2022. |
