Yanmar is stepping up its autonomous offerings

While Yanmar’s YV01 autonomous vineyard sprayer is not new, it was on demo for the first time at this year’s World FIRA. This field robot has a few interesting features that might amaze you.

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Diesel > petrol > EV

Engine and machinery giant Yanmar has been selling autonomous tractors for quite some time now. The four 88 to 113 horsepower autonomous tractors all feature a diesel engine and initially were available in Japan only.

Last year, the company added their petrol powered 25 hp YV01 autonomous spraying robot to its commercial offerings in France, concentrated on the champagne and wine market. This robot is sold and serviced by Yanmar Vineyard Solutions, a new Yanmar company based in Épernay, France. And early February this year, the manufacturer unveiled their electric e-X1 field robot concept.

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Electric spraying concept

It’s interesting to see the multinational company offering so many different types of power sources but they are clearly heading towards fossil and emission-free solutions. In October 2021, on the occasion of the presentation of the YV01 field robot, also a video of Yanmar’s electric spraying robot concept was released. A future vision of a battery electric powered YV01 (derivative) with a variable track width and swappable batteries.

Half a year later, the company acquired a majority share in Dutch battery technology startup ELEO Technologies that was founded in 2017. And just recently, Yanmar acquired German marine electric propulsion manufacturer Torqeedo from fellow engine manufacturer Deutz that acquired the company that was established in 2005 in 2017.

Lightweight and petrol powered

Back to the YV01 that was on display and demo at the recent World FIRA in Auzeville-Tolosane near Toulouse, France. The machine interestingly enough isn’t powered (yet) by a Yanmar engine or an electric drivetrain, but by an air-cooled 800 cc 25 hp Honda petrol engine. Yanmar chose that engine because the obvious Yanmar diesel alternatives are considered too large and too powerful for the small and lightweight field robot.

For the same reason, battery electric propulsion wasn’t chosen either. ‘That would require a 500 kilos battery package which is too heavy for the 1,000 kilos vehicle.’ The YV01 has a 200 litres spray tank and can cope with 45 percent slopes and 20 percent lateral slopes at speeds up to 4 km/h. The vehicle navigates through the vines using RTK-gps, LiDAR and a sonar sensor on each side of the front to detect vine trees.

Autoturning on headlands is done based on prior path planning. Instead of attaching the sprayer, the YV01 can also be equipped with YTAgri cultivators resulting in a 1.450 kilos vehicle weight. Prices for the YV01 start at € 139,560 and there are currently 10 machines in service at customers and as demo machines at dealers.

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More robot concepts to come?

The YV01 and the electric e-X1 concept will surely not be the last Yanmar field robots as during the Italian SMASH project, the company codeveloped a modular robotic platform with control systems for a multipurpose robotic arm for mobile manipulation in high value crops such as vineyards.