One year’s experience with Agbot, what’s it been like?

In partnership with Dutch company Precision Makers, Gerrit converted two flagship tractors, the Fendt 936 Vario and the John Deere 8345, marking a breakthrough in the agricultural sector. However, the takeover of Precision Makers by John Deere interrupted services, leaving Gerrit looking for an alternative. It was in this search for solutions that Gerrit invested in Agxeed’s Agbot.

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A performing robot that exceeds expectations

For 10 months the robot mainly operated with the Flatrac mounted tool, which was responsible for covering tractor tracks, a crucial task in mitigating water damage and machine compaction when passing through plots. In just 10 months, this autonomous machine has worked day and night, in huge 500-hectare plots. From the very first results, it was clear that the robot had achieved an impressive productivity level of 80%, far surpassing the 65% usually achieved by tractor operators.

“It was impressive to see how quickly the machine rose to the challenge, so we decide to test it on a 24-meter spot sprayer to see”, said Gerrit. And the machine has shown that it has the capacity to do so since for even more significant productivity gains, Gerrit and his daughter aspire to see the robot evolve by towing a 48-meter spot sprayer, an ambition based on tangible evidence of its ability to do so. But this undertaking requires advanced technological developments to integrate the imposing dimensions of the equipment and refine its piloting skills, a more complex and research and development time consuming.

A robot that keeps adapting to Australian working conditions

Since the beginning, Gerrit is convinced that Australia and his farm are perfectly suited to accommodate this technology, although he acknowledges the significant differences in working conditions compared to those encountered in Europe. When the robot arrived, the main obstacle was the lack of reception, a challenge quickly overcome thanks to the Starlink network. This innovation enables a constant connection between the machine and the application, transmitting live crucial information directly on the app.

So far, heat has not been a major problem for the machine, unlike the dust that has gradually infiltrated its electronic components and safety devices.

Long working days in Australia would require a larger tank than the current 350 liters, to ensure at least a full day’s autonomy without human intervention. This adaptation is essential to meet the demands of the field and ensure the machine’s constant performance in these specific environmental conditions.

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A user experience that can be improved

The AgBot is equipped with 3 interfaces for its operation: a remote control with a range limited to 50 meters, mainly used for logistic, a web application on the computer for programming missions, and a mobile application to launch mission and get the machine feedback. However, according to Stu, the machine’s main operator, the multiplicity of interfaces complicates its use. At the time of our filming, discharging the remote control resulted in a wait before we could start He also mentioned occasional problems between programming missions on the computer and launching them via the application. Last time, for example, the robot’s storage was not sufficient to contain enough data for the huge fields’ size mission.

Read also: ‘From a big autonomous tractor to a 112 kW field robot’

The logistics of moving the machine in Australia differ from those in Europe. Unlike the common use of trailers in Europe, here the operator manually moves the machine at a speed of 10 km/h while remaining in their vehicle. Knowing that most of the roads around the property are private, they hope soon to benefit from an option enabling the robot to navigate itself to the next plot by recognizing the paths.

Overall, Stu is satisfied with the machine’s operation, but stresses the need for human intervention to resolve certain small details. He expresses his frustration at this dependence, given the impressive potential and capabilities of the AgBot.

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A good support, even at the other side of the planet

After a two-week launching period and training by the manufacturer at the beginning, to get the machine up and running and resolve any potential problems. Machine owners benefit from frequent meetings with technical representatives in the Netherlands for updates and discuss the development of new features, including 48-meter spraying.

As any new machinery, some software bugs occur, and the advantage lies in the Agxeed’ ability to solve these problems remotely as soon as a report is sent, until the machine and Starlink are switched on. According to Marieke, distance is no obstacle: “A simple phone call to the Netherlands, and the problem is solved overnight.”

As for maintenance and service, Landpower, the main CLAAS distributor in Australia and New Zealand, takes responsibility. Spare parts are generally delivered by the CLAAS dealership, located 50 km from the farm, ensuring regular follow-up and supply to keep the machine running smoothly.

High expectations for the future

With a 15% increase in efficiency, reduced fuel consumption thanks to the electric motors, and lower labor costs, the Kurtjens family are delighted with their first year with the machine and look forward to the advances to come. According to Marieke, although the track renovator was a promising initial step, it’s not the task on which the family would like to see the machine evolve. Their goal for next year is to have a robot capable of handling all spot spraying, considering that this is where the main potential savings lie.

According to Gerrit’s estimates, if the robot can spray 48 meters, spot spraying costs could drop from several tens of dollars per hectare to just 2$ /ha for an automated weed control. Over an area of 12,500 hectares and 2,000 hours spent for spraying, this represents considerable savings for the family business. This ambition motivates the close collaboration between the Beefwood Farms team and AgXeed to accelerate the realization of this project.

Currently in the development phase, although tests have shown that the AgBot can already tow the 48-meter behemoth, the software part is not yet ready. Nevertheless, the Kurtjens family remains optimistic and is already thinking about investing in a second machine as soon as the robot can handle these specific tasks and many others.

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