New Agile Slopehelper for narrow vineyards

Slovenian robot manufacturer PeK Automotive, manufacturer of the multifunctional vineyard and orchard field robot Slopehelper, chose this year’s World FIRA to introduce its new field robot model Agilehelper. Agilehelper in fact is a ‘smaller’ version of the Slopehelper. Smaller in relation to its dimensions, Agilehelper measures 3.96 meters long, 1.25 meters wide and 1.76 metres high, but also in relation to its battery package. Agilehelper’s powerpack equals 28 kWh while Slopehelper has a 42 kWh battery pack. With its smaller width, the new field robot primarily targets vineyards with narrower row distances.

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3 standard tools

Another distinguishing factor between both robot models is that Slopehelper is consisting of one base platform capable of carrying and operating currently 13 different tools for vineyards and orchards including an apple picker. Agilehelper is standard equipped with 3 different tools for vineyards: a single rotor power harrow, a drum mulcher for cutting grass between the rows and horizontal and vertical blade cutters. The manufacturer currently is also working on a sprayer attachment that already is available on their other robot model.

Agilehelper weighs 1.900 kilograms and can work between 8 and 12 hours on a fully charged battery pack driving at speeds between 0.5 and 5 km/h. Charging the 28 kWh battery takes 8 hours with a standard charger and 3 hours with a soon to be introduced fast charging system. The robot navigates like Slopehelper does and that’s on 3 radars, sensors and an IMU. It lacks GNNS navigation technology. By marking the beginning and end of each row physically with a metal reflector, both Agilehelper and Slopehelper know when and where to turn (autonomously). The vehicles can cope with slopes up to 42 degrees.

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Price starts at € 50,000

Agilehelper’s sales price starts at € 50,000. Slopehelper is for sale from € 100,000 with attachments varying in price from € 20,000 to € 60,000. PeK Automotive currently has 4 robots operational with the majority in Slovenia and 1 unit in Italy. The company aims to sell 50 to 60 units this year in various European countries. Divided between 25 to 30 Agilehelpers and 25 to 30 Slopehelpers.