Prospr: The Future of Vineyard Management

Robotics Plus, the agritech company based in New Zealand, has returned to FIRA USA in 2024 to showcase Prospr, its hybrid autonomous multipurpose vehicle designed for operations in orchards and vineyards. Prospr, which was launched last year at the same event, has become a key solution in the agricultural sector across the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, transforming the way tasks are performed in these crops.

The company emphasizes that the creation of Prospr addresses one of the global challenges faced by farmers: the need to increase food production sustainably with less environmental impact. According to Steve Saunders, co-founder and CEO of Robotics Plus, Prospr's ability to perform multiple tasks throughout the year and its modular architecture allow farmers to adapt the vehicle to changing crop needs. This includes different tools that adjust to various crop types, planting formats, and heights, significantly improving producers' return on investment.

In addition to its flexibility, Prospr has been designed to optimize efficiency in agricultural tasks. Among its highlighted capabilities is automated smart spraying, which reduces fuel consumption by up to 70% thanks to its diesel-electric hybrid system. This, in turn, lowers emissions and cuts input use, contributing to greater environmental and economic sustainability.

Alistair Scarfe, co-founder and engineering director at Robotics Plus, highlights that discussions at FIRA will focus on how automation and robotics are transforming the agricultural sector. Scarfe points out that Prospr's advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology, along with its simplified user interface, has been key in alleviating labor-related issues while improving precision, safety, and efficiency in vineyards and orchards.

At the core of Prospr's innovation is its AI system, which enables safe and precise navigation in complex environments. The vehicle is equipped with a collision-avoidance system that integrates LiDAR technology and cameras to detect obstacles. With this technology, Prospr can autonomously adjust its speed, avoid collisions, and stop when necessary, all while maintaining high operational speeds. LiDAR's ability to create detailed 3D maps of the environment allows the vehicle to differentiate between harmless elements, like grass or foliage, and critical obstacles, ensuring that it only slows down or stops when absolutely necessary.

Prospr's user interface has also been designed to simplify remote control of operations. Operators can manage and monitor multiple machines from a single location, tracking tasks in real-time. This capability allows farmers to optimize activity planning and generate detailed reports while keeping agricultural tasks running without constant manual intervention.

Another key aspect is safety. Operators can set specific parameters to ensure that operations are safe, protecting people, crops, and the environment. Prospr can seamlessly switch between manual and autonomous functions, offering flexibility in vehicle control.

Beyond autonomous navigation and its intuitive interface, one of Prospr's most relevant features is its smart, targeted spraying capability. Spraying configurations with towers are already available for crops such as grapes, apples, and fruit trees. The spray speed and air speed parameters are dynamically adjusted to maximize application effectiveness, allowing more precise and efficient use of products compared to traditional sprayers. The spray's droplet formation and deposition ensure superior coverage, reaching even the back of leaves, improving the results of applying plant protection products.

Robotics Plus plans to continue developing other accessories for Prospr, which will be released as the company further expands in the agricultural sector. The company remains focused on demonstrating how robotics and automation can be key tools for improving sustainability and efficiency in orchards and vineyards worldwide.