Kubota and FEDE’s latest innovation in specialty crop management, KFAST Autonomous Sprayer

The KFAST robot concept, jointly developed by Kubota and FEDE, autonomously applies phytosanitary treatments and offers the option of remote-control guidance. Its structural design and
newly developed 4x4 traction ensure smooth movement, precise turning, and accurate positioning in the narrowest rows of specialty crop fields. This large-capacity autonomous sprayer can be equipped with various air systems to meet the specific requirements of different plantations.

Ongoing treatments are monitored and displayed on the Specialty Crops Platform (SCP), Fede's digital agronomic management tool. In addition, KFAST sends alerts in case of incident or parameter
out of range, including the detection of empty spraying and diesel tank to autonomously return to the station for refilling. Once the treatment is completed, all the data is registered, providing real
traceability and required information to generate the digital farm book.

KFAST will substantially increase the productivity and efficiency of work in the plantation, since a single operator can manage four robots at a time and enables to carry out nighttime tasks. With aims
to be a solution to the lack of labour problem, as well and the generational renewal, in the agricultural sector. Furthermore, it improves the occupational safety and health by eliminating the risks of accidents and drastically reducing occupational exposure to pesticides.

Specialty crops high precision treatments: real time spraying adjustment

Once the work order is received, Fede's autonomous sprayer concept goes to the assigned row to start the treatment. KFAST, equipped with the AIs system, an innovative technology that performs high-precision treatments through image capture and AI processing. The robot adapts the spraying in real time with individualised control of the nozzles to adjust the application tree by tree while maintaining a constant pressure and application flow in each open nozzle with a homogeneous distribution and deposition of the treatment.

KFAST concept stands out for its remarkable reduction in pesticide use and soil degradation, both key objectives in the EU Green Deal. The system registers savings in the use of pesticides of up to
40%, according to the field tests results carried out within the LIFE-AIs project, which increase significantly when carrying out treatments based on the prescription of variable application maps
(VRA). At the same time, it relieves soil compaction by moving only 4 wheels always following the same axis, reducing the number of tons supported by the soil and minimising displacements.
Additionally, the indicators generated by KFAST image capture offer updated data on the state of the plantation, valuable information that can be used by third parties to offer their agronomic services.

KFAST is distinguished for being an open system that allows the integration a wide range of service providers such as pest detection, yield prediction, farm management information systems, among others.

The KFAST concept, Kubota Fede Autonomous Spraying Technology, has been awarded as Technical Novelty at FIMA 2024, a worldwide benchmark event in the agricultural machinery sector
for specialty crops.