Fendt are known and recognised for being technological leaders in tractors and laterally forage equipment. This time they have taken a step into the field of robotic planting.Documenting
Fendt are known and recognised for being technological leaders in tractors and laterally forage equipment. This time they have taken a step into the field of robotic planting.
Documenting
The Xaver system uses a swarm of small robots to plan, monitor and accurately document the precise planting of corn.
The robots use satellite navigation and cloud-computing to allow them to work around the clock with permanent access to all data.
Such is the accuracy of the system, the location of every single seed is known with all information being available on demand.
Fendt say the advantage of this level of accuracy can determine a lot of the planned treatments of the subsequent crop including spraying and fertilising.
Planning
Planning all this is done via the Xaver app which can determine seeding rate, seed pattern and optimal paths, depending on the number of robots in the swarm.
In the event of one of these robots breaking down or losing communication, the other robots in the swarm recalculate their activity and share out the work. It is estimated that a swarm of six to 12 robots can cover an area of 1ha/hr.
Each battery-operated electric-motor driven unit weighs approximately 50kg.
These can work around the clock seven days a week, even in less than ideal conditions when ordinary tractors cannot travel due to their negligible ground pressure of 200g/cm².
Fendt say the robots are easy to mechanically assemble, do not use complex sensors and are highly robust. Their small size and light weight makes maintenance easier. Cost is, as yet, unavailable and these will be unveiled to the public for the first time at Agritechnica this November.
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