The challenges of agricultural robotics: production shutdowns and market developments

Although the outlook seems bright for many robotics companies, several agricultural robotics companies have been forced to halt production over the past year. Agriculture of the future looks back at some key developments in the agricultural robotics sector over the past 12 months.

Bryan Sanders, president of HSE, official reseller of the XAG R150 in the United States, recently confirmed that XAG has stopped production of its R150 robot. As a result, the R150 is no longer included in the Agriculture of the future buyers guide.

It remains unclear whether XAG plans to restart production of the R150 at some point in the future. Sanders shared his insights, saying, “The market primarily buys spraying drones. We sell a lot of them,” highlighting the shift in demand toward drone technology focused on spraying applications. However, Sanders hopes that the XAG R150 will return to the market next year.

Growing interest in drones was evident at FIRA, the first field crop robotics event in the United States. Visitors had the opportunity to interact with a number of U.S. drone service providers, many of whom showcased their latest innovations in a dedicated indoor drone. flag. As the demand for drones increases, so does their technological capability.

Although the XAG R150 is no longer in production, Sanders believes that specialty crop regions hold immense potential for field robots. “These growers often face unique challenges with limited specialized equipment options,” he says. “Agricultural robots provide the flexibility and adaptability needed to effectively address these challenges. »

_{Text continues below image}

Inspiring a new wave of tech-savvy farmers

Several factors determine adoption, Sanders points out. Regions facing labor shortages will be more likely to adopt agricultural robots to automate tasks and improve productivity. Areas facing water scarcity or strict regulations on pesticide use can turn to agricultural robots for precision applications and reduced environmental impact. And regions with strong technology infrastructure and support networks will be better equipped to effectively integrate and use agricultural robots.

Beyond the immediate benefits, autonomous technologies are also key to attracting the next generation of farmers, says Sander. “Young people are attracted to innovation and technology. By integrating these tools into agriculture, we can inspire a new wave of tech-savvy farmers who are passionate about sustainability and efficiency. This is a critical opportunity to revitalize the agricultural workforce and ensure a prosperous future for the industry.

However, other companies in the agricultural robotics sector have also had to stop production. England-based Small Robot Company (SRC) closed its doors earlier this year after struggling to secure the funding needed to move to its next phase.

Financial struggles

After a long battle for its survival, the SRC entered liquidation. The company cited the lack of a robust financing ecosystem for equipment in the agricultural sector as a major obstacle. “Agriculture is seen as very risky. Government funding only covers the prototype stages,” the SRC underlined in a press release.

SRC had developed an autonomous agricultural platform, with robots like Tom, a weeding platform, and Dick, a weeding robot. Unfortunately, Dick did not survive the first attempts. Another robot, Harry, was designed for planting purposes. Additionally, SRC’s Wilma system was used to identify weeds, contributing to more precise and effective weed control. Despite these innovations, the company’s inability to obtain adequate financing led to its closure.

While some established companies face financial difficulties, new agricultural robot startups also face similar challenges. Australian startup Ripe Robotics, for example, was set to begin orchard trials with its fruit-picking robot Eve in 2022, as it developed its fifth version.

_{Text continues below image}

New house in Belgium

However, lack of funding halted progress and despite several attempts to continue operations, Ripe Robotics was forced to close its doors. Fortunately, the company and the Eve robot have found a new home in Belgium, with Octinion, a company known for its own agricultural robots, including the Rubion autonomous strawberry picking robot. Even if Eve’s future remains uncertain, the robot’s potential has attracted the attention of new players.

In 2023, the InsightTRAC Rover, a robot developed to aid in pest control by shooting biodegradable pellets at almond mummies to prevent pest damage, won the prestigious Agricultural Robot of the Year award . However, despite this recognition, there has been very little news regarding the Rover’s progress.

The company behind the Rover has been notably inactive on social media, with no posts on Facebook for over 20 months and no activity on X for over a year. Agriculture of the future contacted InsightTRAC for an update and CEO Anna Haldewang confirmed that the company is not conducting any field trials at this time. However, Rover’s future remains uncertain at the moment.

In 2024, AgroIntelli discontinued the Robotti 150D and replaced it with the new Robotti LR model. The Robotti 150D was a rugged field robot designed for power-intensive tasks. It featured two engines, a power take-off, and a traditional diesel-hydraulic system, making it versatile for various field operations.

_{Text continues below image}

Squirrel

The versatile 150D was equipped to carry out precision tasks such as seeding, weeding and spraying, while its PTO also allowed it to carry out heavier tasks such as mowing, rotating and mechanical harrowing. The Robotti 150D was compatible with a wide range of well-established and proven tools.

In another development, Muddy Machines has acquired the assets and intellectual property (IP) of the Fox Robotics Hugo platform. Fox Robotics, based in Farnham, UK, was a startup focused on solving the specific challenges faced by soft fruit farms. Fox Robotics in the United Kingdom should not be confused with Fox Robotics Inc., based in Austin, Texas.

Muddy Machines, following the acquisition, announced that it now offers a wider range of autonomous systems for growers. As part of this transition, Muddy Machines will rebrand the Hugo RT platform, previously developed by Fox Robotics, and rename it “Squirrel”.

The autonomous system will compete with Burro Robotics’ field robot. Like Burro Robotics’ offering, the Squirrel is designed to autonomously transport materials from one location to another on the farm, improving operational efficiency and reducing the need for manual labor.