Machinery manufacturer New Holland recently presented its R4 robot at the Agritechnica trade fair in Hannover (D). It is a small autonomous tracked vehicle.
New Holland is introducing the R4 robot. It is an autonomous, two-track vehicle designed for orchard tasks. The robot comes in two versions. At Agritechnica New Holland displayed a hybrid variant equipped with a 59 hp diesel engine that drives a generator. The other version is a battery-powered robot with a 40 kWh battery.
500-kg lifting capacity
The battery-powered robot is 0.7 metres wide. The hybrid version on display is 1.20 metres wide. Another difference: the hybrid variant weighs 1,400 kg and features a mechanically driven PTO (540 rpm). The battery version does not have a PTO. At the rear, the robot is fitted with a hitch that lifts 500 kg using linear electric motors.
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Raven technology
The robot is equipped with 6 cameras (2 at the front, 2 at the rear and 2 to the sides). It features Lidar obstacle detection, and the bumper also functions as an obstacle sensor. Navigation is powered by software from Raven. According to New Holland, the R4 robot is expected to enter the market in 2027. The manufacturer has not yet provided an indicative price.
