FIRA USA highlights in pictures part 1
FIRA USA 2024 had several highlights to showcase. Highlights ranging from smart weeders, soil mappers, autosteer retrofit kits, an apple picking robot to a new autonomous sprayer.
The third edition of FIRA USA, taking place at the Yolo County Fair in Woodland (California), attracted exhibitors as well as growers from several continents. The exhibitors and new was divided over two exhibition zones with static machinery as well as a demo area for smart weeders and orchard and vineyard automation. Here’s part one of the highlights in pictures.
FarmX launched its OrchardPilot autosteer retrofit kit at FIRA USA. The vision-based system is specifically designed to work in orchards and (other) gps-denied areas. It navigates based on a prior planned path/route and does use gps to determine the starting point of a mission.
FarmX uses stereo cameras combined with a LiDAR sensor for the guidance. The autosteer solution is launching in the US, India and Japan (Europe in 2026) costing $9,000 plus an additional annual fee of $1,000 for software updates. The technology is due to be part of an autonomous retrofit kit as well.
A familiar yet not so familiar soil mapper at the booth of Pessl Instruments. Underneath is caries the Topsoil Mapper developed by fellow Austrian technology company Geoprospectors. Pessl owner and CEO Gottfried Pessl said to Future Farming that his company acquired the technology after Geoprospectors becoming insolvent.
No major developments but just technological tweaks at Verdant Robotics Sharpshooter spot sprayer. Such as the nozzles that have been tuned a little further to optimise their range. The company is also shifting its business model from weeding as a service to selling its Sharpshooters.
Solinftec’s Solix autonomous spot sprayer in action in a ‘field’ of maize planting in a former parking lot of the Yolo County Fair. Due to the weed pressure, spot spraying nearly became blanket spraying during the demo’s. There’s currently 50 Solix sold in the US corn belt (mainly) and 50 in Brazil. Strating price: $50,000.
Indian Niqo Robotics demonstrated its lettuce thinning spot sprayer. The thinner uses the same inhouse developed RGB camera technology as Niqo’s spot sprayer solution rented out in India to smallholder farmers. 50 spot sprayers are currently deployed in India.
Augean Robotics launched a variety of news on their Burro field robot range including this spot spray novelty incorporating WEED-IT sensors to spot and spray weeds underneath orchard trees. In this case fitted to the Burro Grande model.
Agtonomy showing one of the benefits of their TeleFarmer autonomous retrofit kit: driver optional technology allowing for manned transportation and unmanned field work. New is the combination of TeleFarmer and this 45-horsepower Bobcat CT4045 compact tractor.
Not at FIRA USA, but at the nearby Advanced Farm Technology facilities in Davis, California, was this demo of their robotic apple picker prototype. Three robotic arms on each side using stereo cameras and vacuum supported suction cups pick apples in trellis type orchards. Still in prototype phase and not for sale yet. Price indication per machine: $350,000.
The artificial apples, fixed to the stems with small magnetic mounts, were picked during multiple demonstrations at rates of 3,180 to 3,323 apples per hour with success rates of 93 and 95 percent. According to Advanced Farm Technology, human apple pickers pick 1,000 to 1,200 apples per hour.
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