The ninth edition of the autonomy and robotics event World FIRA took place in Auzeville-Tolosane, near Toulouse, France from February 4 to 6. For the third consecutive year, it was an outdoor event featuring live demonstrations. However, it appeared that slightly fewer manufacturers took advantage of this opportunity compared to previous editions.
The demonstrations included autonomous vehicles and combinations of field robots and implements. Notably, several manufacturers brought vehicles from dealers and customers, including AgXeed, Naïo, and Odd.Bot. Odd.Bot did not demonstrate but participated in the Dutch pavilion at World FIRA.
AgXeed was present at World FIRA together with its French dealer Sevra. The companies showcased an Amazone rotary harrow in action. On the third day, AgXeed won the ‘Easiest Robot Award 2025’ from Entraid Médias.Naïo demonstrated all 4 of its well-known field robots, which have not undergone significant changes in the past year. This Naïo Orio is equipped with a Stanhay precision seeder.2 French manufacturers side by side. In the foreground, Agreenculture, and behind it, Sabi Agri. Agreenculture is discontinuing its CEOL field robot and will now focus entirely on supplying kits to make vehicles autonomous. This includes Kubota tractors, as well as the Kubota-Fede KFAST autonomous orchard sprayer, which features an Agreenculture autonomy kit.SoftiRob, also a French company, demonstrated during a workshop for (French) farmers how the 22 kWh battery of the Softi Rover can be easily swapped using, for example, a tractor. Due to the high cost of batteries, the company abandoned a larger 44 kWh battery. SoftiRob is operated by a French arable farmer who tests the vehicle and its associated implements on his own farm. Market introduction is currently planned for 2030.Noteworthy news from Exxact Robotics. Like sprayer manufacturers Agrifac, Hardi, and Tecnoma, the company is part of the French Exel Industries. Exxact Robotics has realised that marketing field robots is quite different from developing them. For this reason, its Traxx field robot will soon be marketed in Tecnoma colors through Tecnoma dealer networks. The manufacturer has also switched from a two-cylinder gasoline engine to a four-cylinder diesel engine.New Holland was a partner of the 2025 edition of World FIRA and, without demonstrating, showcased the T4.120F featuring the Advanced Vision Assisted Guidance system. This system utilises a LiDAR sensor mounted at the center front of the cab roof for automated steering.Odd.Bot brought a ‘French’ Maverick weeding robot, which was displayed in the Dutch pavilion. The Maverick was also nominated for the Ag Robot of The Year (AROTY) 2025 Award by Future Farming and World FIRA.PeK Automotive from Slovenia presented not only an apple-picking unit for the Slopehelper robot platform but also this first prototype of a grape-harvesting unit, specifically designed for viticulture. The gripper features four tiny cameras to locate grape clusters.
