Calvet has introduced its first autonomous spraying robot, priced at 70,000 euros. This innovation marks a step toward automating vineyards and orchards, areas where manual labor is often required for spraying treatments. While the robot is more expensive than a traditional sprayer, it is less costly than a tractor equipped with a sprayer and an operator. Gaëtan Marty, commercial director of the SME in Lézignan-Corbières, in the Aude, says the robot combines technological innovation with economic accessibility. The company focused on spraying as a candidate for automation, a task disliked by operators due to health risks and the need for treatments at night, which are poorly received by the local community. The robot is described as a discreet tool that moves through rows without coming into contact with the operator. The robot's design features a carrier base with a spraying system composed of a custom-made air convective system. Two types of arch are available: round or vertical, with possible segment cuts to the right or left. Both arches can accommodate all types of nozzles. The "liquid" part is located at the front of the vehicle, with a 50-liter rinsing tank and a 25-liter diesel tank. At the back, the motor is on the right side, and the spraying pump is on the left. Two side hoods with upward-opening panels facilitate access for maintenance and repairs. The robot is compact, measuring 2.65 m x 1.26 m x 1.36 m, but is equipped with a 500-liter tank. It requires a row width of 1.50 m to 1.80 m to move. A 45 horsepower thermal engine powers a pair of tracks with agricultural mounts, as well as the spraying pump. With an announced consumption of 4 liters per hour, the robot has enough autonomy for its day (or night) of work. The tracks ensure good load-bearing, allowing the robot to operate shortly after rain. Another advantage is the ability to make a half-turn almost on the spot at the end of the row, requiring only 2.50 m of turning width. The robot is equipped with a flow meter that allows it to self-regulate the amount of boiling liquid distributed based on its speed and the instructions it has received. Its maximum speed is 4.5 km/h. The machine is equipped with artificial intelligence that assists the user in organizing the site. The AI calculates, based on the remaining boiling liquid in the tank and the length of the rows the machine needs to cover, when to stop to refill in order to complete full rows and avoid stopping in the middle of a row. Equipped with two GPS antennas for better precision, the robot can be guided via a GSM subscription or a fixed antenna, which is an additional item. In both cases, the precision is centimeter-level (RTK correction system). Before any use, a survey is necessary so that the robot knows where to position itself. On regular-shaped parcels, a pass at the four corners is sufficient. For parcels with irregular shapes, it will be necessary to go around, on foot or with a quad. Non-straight rows require a pass in the row. Calvet estimates the time needed per hectare to be a quarter of an hour. Once the parcels are recorded, the robot moves inside and performs the half-turns autonomously. If it can use the paths, it cannot circulate on the road and must be transported on a trailer. Regulation requires that the operator be nearby when the machine is operating. This requirement can be met by using the remote control, which is equipped with a screen connected to the robot's camera, providing access to the view from the front of the device. The upper part is intended to receive a smartphone that contains the field data, via a dedicated application provided with the robot. The lower part is used for manual guidance via a joystick, for all loading or moving operations for filling, for example. At the start of the operation, it is necessary to pair the robot with these two elements that communicate via wifi. The remote control also serves as a tank gauge. In terms of safety, the vehicle is equipped with a bumper at the front, which stops the robot in case of contact with an obstacle. Preventively, a Lidar detects the presence in front of the robot, whether human, animal or plant, and also stops the machine if the distance is estimated to be too close (from 3 m). For the spraying part, the machine's maintenance requirements do not differ from a classic sprayer. The rinsing tank uses the already tested technology by the manufacturer. The exterior is rinsed with a pressure washer, paying attention to the antennas, which are more fragile. For the engine, Calvet recommends maintenance at a "normal" periodicity, every 200-300 hours approximately. Maintenance points such as grease fittings are to be done regularly, depending on the intensity and usage conditions.