We have talked in the past about Solinftec’s autonomous sprayers that can go around your field, under solar power, and take care of your spraying needs 24/7. However, there have been questions about how often the unit needs attending. Just like with any piece of machinery, there is maintenance that must be performed. But the real question was how often does the machine need to be filled?
That’s a fair question to ask. If the time you are saving by not having to be in each field doing the actual spraying is replaced by the time you have to spend refilling the unit, you might not be saving a lot in the end. Solinftec has considered that as well and has taken refilling and spraying capabilities to a new level with their docking station.
Chris Dillard is with Solinftec, and he talks about what the docking station means for users.
Not only does that mean the sprayer can refill itself, but it also can switch its attack mode. The sprayers cover ground at about one mile per hour and have cameras and software constantly scanning for other crop issues. Now, at a mile an hour, that means taking care of broadleaves, and then going back and getting grass takes time. However, the technology will allow the sprayer to empty the contents of one crop protection product, flush itself clean, reload with a new product, and go back out into that same area to attack what it has found before it gets too far away in the field.
Now before you start thinking about the machine uprising, just know that any moves made that would be based on data collected would still have to be approved by the producer. It still gives farmers complete control.
Dillard adds that with the capability this machine has for data gathering, the sky is the limit for what it can help us understand in our fields.
Solinftec is expanding its U.S. presence and is hoping to be in more Iowa fields in 2025. You can see the full interview below.
