Listen to this article

The new Solix docking station supports the Solix robot by autonomously refilling chemicals on site. | Image credit: Solinftec

Brazilian robotics company Solinftec unveiled its autonomous agricultural spraying robot Solix just over a year ago. As the name suggests, Solix uses on-board solar power and is designed for farming tasks such as crop observation and targeted spraying.

The robot uses artificial intelligence with vision cameras and other sensors to traverse the fields. Solinftec said it can effectively control weeds and insects while optimizing the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides. The company aims to reduce chemical use by up to 95%.

Today at the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa, Solinftec unveiled its latest development in agricultural robotics: the Solix docking station, designed to expand the robot’s capabilities by allowing it to refill chemicals, fertilizers and biological products in the field.

The docking station is autonomous, solar-powered and integrated with Solix’s software platform. This new technology enables continuous field management by ensuring the robot has 24/7 access to the necessary products to keep operations running, Solinftec said.

The station also incorporates scouting data from the growing season to ensure the right products are available for daily execution.

Register now.

Solinftec celebrates second year in the USA

North America is an important and growing market for Solix and this is the robot’s second year of operation in the US. Solinftec has expanded its workforce and operations in the US during this period.

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

Solinftec is validating the final features and concepts as the docking station nears production.

“We plan to equip the station with several products and have the robot apply the test concept in the field,” said Guiné. “Solix is ​​able to apply a small amount of product in a section of the field and check the crop’s response.”

“Solix can then monitor this area and expand the scope based on the results,” he added. “This will allow us to accelerate the introduction of new products at scale, taking into account the diversity of each field, region and season.”

The Solix docking station is completely self-contained and designed for continuous operation. | Image credit: Solinftec

Solix docking station analyzes field data

The docking station uses data about the field to help the robot increase agricultural productivity, Solinftec said. The robot examines the entire field plant by plant and provides data and information about plant health, weed infestation and certain pests.

When Solix stops to refill, the docking station loads the correct products and quantities onto the robot. The docking station can also autonomously and safely flush the robot’s tanks so that chemicals are not mixed on board, Solinftec noted.

The docking station can be refilled while the Solix robot continues its mission in the field, it said.

Editor’s note: The Field Robotics section at RoboBusiness 2024 will feature speakers from FarmWise, u-blox, Bishop-Wisecarver, Forcen, Point One Navigation, Blue River Technology and SKA Robotics. Register now to attend the event, taking place October 16 and 17 in Santa Clara, California.