With a growing amount of robotic equipment on the market, can farm businesses make better use of their capabilities? James Huyton looks an economically viable option.
Manufactured by Chinese business AgileX, the Bunker unit platform provides a base for small-scale infield autonomous robotics.
The tracked unit can be operated with a RTK receiver and base station allowing accurate positioning, alongside additional sensors to identify objects in its surroundings. Adding to this functionality, an optional variable rate controller can be provided.
Supplied as a bare platform, the twin-track unit has a 150kg carrying capacity and a 300kg towing capacity. Currently, units are already in use operating soil-sampling equipment, however the machine shows potential for mounting a compact spreader for pellets or small seeds.
Power is provided by a 48-volt removable battery giving the machine a seven to eight-hour run time when operated at an eight-kilometre-per-hour forward speed. Pricing for the Bunker unit starts at around £12,000, which includes a conventional remote control for control of the unit outside of field boundaries.
Although limited to operating with compact implements, the pricing and bare platform show some potential as a more affordable autonomous solution, particularly when working on less accessible terrains.
