Spraying: the range of vineyard and orchard robots is expanding

This summer, three new robots for treatment operated in the vineyards and orchards. The XAG Rover R200 kicked things off in June, winning an innovation award at the Italian outdoor trade show Enovitis in campo. Calvet followed suit, as did Rotair, albeit more discreetly. But do these robots represent a genuine breakthrough, or do they simply add to an already saturated spraying market?

A different way to design and manage crop protection

It all depends on the device. While the models presented by Calvet and Rotair use a conventional air-assisted spraying, XAG’s robot appears to be more innovative. “For me, it is a truly disruptive innovation, says Adel Bakache, agricultural equipment adviser at the Gironde Chamber of Agriculture. It’s a different way of designing and managing the protection of the vineyard, orchards or even greenhouses. »

The Chinese manufacturer has indeed opted for the same spraying technology as that used in the drones, namely the rotary nozzles, or centrifugal nozzles, individually controlled and installed in turbines. “When you look at the turbines, you can see lots of small aerodynamic shapes inside that accelerate the flow”, the advisor adds. All this makes it possible to adapt the device to the conditions during application. “So, in the morning, when there is no wind and the temperature is moderate, we can treat using fine droplets, he continues, and if we have to finish the treatment in the afternoon, we can easily increase the droplet size by slowing down the rotation speed of the nozzles. »

Another advantage is the price of these devices. The Calvet and the Rotair cost around 70 000 euros (+/- 5 000 euros), including the robot and spraying system, compared with 250 000 euros for a straddle tractor and a cab. As for the XAG, it is even more attractive, with a maximum price of 20 000 euros for the complete set. “These are solutions that are suitable both technically and economically ,” concludes Adel Bakache.

The Rotair and the Calvet are equipped with tracks, whereas the XAG costs only 20 000 euros

That said, each machine has its own advantages. Calvet’s robot has the largest tank, with a capacity of 500 litres. And it is equipped with tracks, just like the Rotair, which is also equipped with a sprayer on a pivoting turret to adapt to the slope. This gives these two robots good traction on rough terrain, cross-slopes and other slopes. The XAG, meanwhile, is the cheapest on the market and features breakthrough treatment technology. « Paired with a drone, it costs less than 50 000 euros and allows you to be self-sufficient on your farm, the adviser concludes. For the innovation it offers, it is not expensive. » Let’s hope these little machines conquer more than one estate!