Fifteen Harvy500 picking robots to harvest blueberries

In addition to the six farms in the Netherlands that will be harvesting with Fine Field’s Harvy500, the fully automatic harvester will be deployed next season on farms in Portugal, Canada, Germany, France and Belgium. In total, fifteen Harvy’s will be operation on twelve farms, with two running on three farms. During the past season five Harvy500’s were operational.

Further development

Fine Field has further developed the Harvy500 since the presentation of the first prototype about two years ago. For example, the two patented shaking heads can be electronically adjusted in a linear way in shaking intensity between 50 and 700 Hz. The brushes that support the plants during shaking are made of more durable material with a longer life span. The berry collection tarpaulin has been replaced with two inwardly rotating conveyor belts that carry the berries to the collection bin.

Ten solar panels

On the roof ten solar panels that provide energy for 10 to 13 hours of operation in semi-cloudy weather are mounted, which means recharging the battery is not necessary. Fine Field assumes that in practice the machine remains on a plot at night and that there is no power outlet nearby. In the unlikely event that extra charging would be necessary, it can be done with a power generator. On a cloudy day, recharging will be necessary after about 7 to 8 hours of operation.

Remote service

The machine is available with a battery capacity of 10 kW and 20 kW. The required capacity depends on the use of the machine. The Harvy 500 with a 20 kW battery capacity requires an investment of € 279,000, including generator. Fine Field provides a 4-day course for the operator. In principle, all necessary service or instructions in case of malfunctions can be provided remotely.

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