FarmDroid is the world’s first fully automatic robot that can take care of sowing and mechanical weed control. FarmTech Australia are the exclusive distributors of the FarmDroid FD20 in Australia.
This fully automatic, solar powered field robot geo-locates every seed planted, then uses this data to mechanically weed between and inside each row as the crop grows.
Row spacing, plant distance, seeding depth can all be adjusted to suit up to 50+ different small seed crops and various soil types and typographies.
Live video monitoring, status updates and notifications through a mobile app.
Unmatched GPS precision allows for early, invisible weeding before germination to maximise crop yields and reduce costly and timely inputs, minimising the need for manual weeding or sprays.
A large seed planter is currently in development for cotton, corn, beans and pumpkins.
50+ CROPS
SOLAR POWERED
UP TO 24 HRS/DAY
UP TO 6.5 HA/DAY
8MM ACCURACY
LOWER INPUTS
EARLIER WEEDING
HIGHER YIELDS
Features
- Four solar panels power and charge two batteries
- Up to 24 hours (6.5ha) daily operation
- High precision RTK GPS technology, within 8mm accuracy
- Light-weight (900kg) to protect soil structures
- 3m operating width, up to 12 rows
- 3 different wheel configurations for varying terrain
For further product specifications
Benefits
- CO2-neutral in operation, no need for external charging
- Patented system creates ideal seeding patterns
- Start weeding before germination
- Reduces timely and costly manual weeding
- Reduces chemical inputs
- Minimal soil compaction
- Earlier weeding and soil protection maximises yields
- Average pay-back period (2-3 years)
- Multiple paddocks and different crops up to 20ha
FAQs
CAN FARMDROID HANDLE MULTIPLE CROPS?
The robot is compatible with more than 50 crops and can easily be moved between paddocks with different crops. One paddock can also be divided into smaller plots with different crops.
Compatible crops are beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, chicory, coriander, dill, hemp, onion, parsley, radish, rapeseed, spinach, sugar beet, turnip.
A large seed planter is currently in development for cotton, corn, beans and pumpkins.
HOW CAN FARMDROID ACHIEVE BLIND WEEDING?
The robot uses RTK GPS technology to seed and weed. It does not rely on camera or sensor systems to weed. Therefore, it can also start weeding even before the crops have germinated. It does not need to see the crops, because it knows exactly where they are placed in the field.
There is a camera on the robot, but it just enables the farmer to remotely log into the robot from a dedicated mobile app, to see how the robot is working.
HOW DO YOU TRANSPORT FARMDROID?
There are different ways of transporting the robot:
- With a 3-point hitch that is compatible with all tractors to move it on private roads and between fields
- A dedicated transport platform for public roads
- By putting the FarmDroid in manual mode and steer it manually for short distances
IS FARMDROID ONLY FOR ORGANIC FARMERS?
No. The FarmDroid can be used by both organic and conventional farmers. Not only can FarmDroid reduce the cost, time and hard work of manual hand weeding, it can also reduce the use of chemicals in conventional farming as well. It does that by combining mechanical weeding with a high-precision Spot Application System (Spray Pack) that can put a dose of fertiliser or pesticides.
WHAT KIND OF SOIL TYPES CAN THE ROBOT WORK IN?
The FarmDroid is able to work in different soil types. To increase traction, it is possible to add weight strategically on the robot while also putting more pressure when seeding. There are three different wheel configurations to handle different terrain and topography.
CAN FARMDROID WORK IF THERE IS NO SUN?
Yes, the solar panels on top of the robot charge the batteries so that the robot can drive when there is no sun. Running solely on solar energy the robot can run between 18-24 hours a day, depending on weather conditions. The solar panels can deliver up to 1.6 kWh corresponding to 20 kWh a day. That gives the FarmDroid enough power to avoid charging the batteries externally.
If that is not enough power, it is also possible to add a Powerbank to your robot. When the weather is bad for longer periods, and there is not enough sun to power your FarmDroid, the Powerbank will provide you with extra energy. A fully charged Powerbank can provide up to 12 hours of operation.
DO YOU HAVE TO SUPERVISE FARMDROID WHILE IT WORKS?
No. The robot is autonomous, meaning that it can work independently and without supervision. It has several safety measures in place including the geo-fence. For example, as it seeds, the robot counts every seed. If a seed gets stuck or if the robot runs out of seeds, it stops and sends a notification to your smartphone right away. Should anything deviate from the robot’s specific settings, it will automatically stop working.