A new docking station from AI innovator Solinftec enables autonomous filling of the Solix Ag Robot, allowing it to operate 100 percent autonomously all season long. The new technology was unveiled at the 2024 Farm Progress Show, taking place this week in Boone, Iowa, and the company is currently validating its final features and concepts as it moves toward production.

Indiana-based Solinftec has had a scouting robot for several years, and its Solix Sprayer Robot, which can detect and spray weeds, will be launched in early 2024. The sprayer is designed to provide complete agronomic field analysis, improve early-stage weed control, reduce herbicide use by up to 95 percent, limit soil compaction and carbon footprint, and potentially increase field productivity.

“Every field has unique characteristics that create different weeds in the field depending on the stage of growth of the plants,” said Guilherme Guiné, Chief Operating Officer of Solinftec North America. “We designed the docking station so that Solix can select the product to use based on weed detection by our ALICE AI artificial intelligence system. This allows specific products to be used for each unique situation.”

The docking station is autonomous, solar powered and integrated into the Solix platform. This new technology enables continuous field management by ensuring that the robot has access to the required products 24/7. The station also takes into account scouting data collected throughout the growing season to ensure that the right products are available for daily execution.

We plan to equip the station with several products and have the robot apply the testing concept in the field,” said Guiné. “Solix has the ability to apply a small amount of product in a section of the field and see how the crop responds. Solix can then monitor this area and expand the application area based on the results. This will allow us to accelerate the large-scale introduction of new products, taking into account the diversity of each field, region and season.”

The docking station and Solix will also identify areas with similar characteristics and focus on the most promising results to increase productivity. This concept can be applied to biological products, chemicals, fertilizers and any new product that can bring productivity gains. The docking station will also be able to rinse the robot’s tanks autonomously and safely.