New Holland is previewing a complicated idea at Agritechnica. The new R4 robotic sequence is designed to assist winery, orchard and specialty crop growers overcome sector challenges, together with labour shortages and calls for for extra environmentally-friendly meals manufacturing.
“Excessive-value crops have enormous market potential, however growers face manufacturing challenges together with expert labour shortages for extremely repetitive work throughout seasonal peaks,” says Thierry Le Briquer, grape, olive & espresso international supervisor at New Holland. “R4 robots have been developed to automate such jobs, boosting each effectivity and sustainability with a zero-emission resolution.”
The R4 robots execute repetitive, decrease worth duties the place correct and secure work doesn’t rely upon human presence – jobs akin to inter-row mowing or tillage. The 2 autonomous robots additionally tackle essentially the most time-consuming duties in vineyards and orchards – spraying, for instance. Managed by way of an app, R4 machines are managed by way of a mix of GPS, LIDAR and imaginative and prescient cameras.
“R4 is an all-new idea – there is no such thing as a cab,” says Le Briquer. “It has been designed contemporary from the bottom up, but it’s constructed totally on our in-house basis and utilizing our experience in electronics, powertrains, precision tech, and extra. It’s the latest member of our product household, becoming a member of our lineup alongside tractors, grape harvesters, and different machines.
“What makes it much more highly effective is that it leverages the identical autonomous tech stack and elements we’ve developed for our money crop and row crop platforms, displaying the scalability and suppleness of our options. It suits proper into our full product providing, sharing programs akin to FieldOps and the identical autonomy platform used throughout each money crop and specialty machines. This makes it extremely versatile, straightforward to improve, and well-supported for the longer term.”
New Holland has developed two variations of the R4 autonomous machine idea, every tailor-made to fulfill the particular wants of various specialist crop sectors.
Each characteristic suspended rubber-track drive models to maximise traction and minimise compaction, and incorporate an clever, continuously-variable electrical drivetrain. They will energy implements electrically with out hydraulic oil, decreasing upkeep necessities, elements, weight, emissions, value and compaction. Each machines are appropriate with current implements.
Focused primarily at high-end slim vineyards, R4 Electrical Energy is electrically-powered by way of a 40kWh battery pack.
With a 1.38m most top and total width of simply 0.7m, the R4 Electrical Energy can work in 1.0-1.5m crop spacings and weighs only one tonne. A custom-designed, ultra-compact hitch has a 500kg raise capability, and the machine may energy electrically- pushed implements.
The larger full-hybrid mannequin, R4 Hybrid Energy, is designed for orchards and fruit producers and gives extra energy and prolonged autonomy, with a power-to-weight ratio double that of a standard specialty tractor with comparable output. Weighing 1,400kg and measuring 1.2m large, the machine is optimised for row spacings of 1.5m and above. Its double-pass functionality ensures full protection, permitting it to function effectively in massive orchards with out misses.
Energy is supplied by a 59hp/44kW diesel engine which may run on vegetable oil-based fuels to chop emissions. This drives an electrical generator pack for transmission and implement energy. When appropriate, R4 Hybrid Energy can run in fully-electric mode, with the 2 4kWh batteries powering the machine for zero-emission and quiet operation. The electrically-powered Cat I/II hitch is maintenance-free. A mechanical 540rpm PTO with clever progressive clutching works with customary implements – and a 48V/12kW e-PTO socket can energy future electrically-driven machines.
Photos: New Holland
