Aspergerobots now really at work

For years, asparagus grower Teboza from Helden has been experimenting with the Sparter, a harvesting robot developed by the Brabant-based company Cerescon, but this year the device will officially go to work for him for the first time. That means fifteen to twenty fewer seasonal workers will be needed this season. And Teboza is not alone: six growers in the Netherlands and Germany will have the Sparter harvest their asparagus this year, including Martens Asperges from Tienray.

Detect

It took about seven years of cooperation between builder and growers to get the Sparter to do exactly what it is supposed to do, which is pull the right asparagus out of the ground at the right time. Detecting the asparagus was the biggest challenge. After attempts with infrared radiation, radio waves and radar, a particular sensor finally achieved the desired result. Now the asparagus can be found while it has not yet emerged from the ground and the growers also receive a wealth of information about their crop through the sensors.

Power of labour

For the Sparter, an asparagus grower has to put down about three and a half tons. In return, the robot works more accurately than a human hand. All harvest-ready stalks are detected and immature growth is not damaged. It is also possible to work ahead, harvesting at greater depths. The biggest advantage lies in reducing labor costs, uncertainty about finding workers, and problems with housing, transportation, and protective measures. Especially in corona time, this saves the farmer a lot of worry. All by itself, the robot does not go out. An operator is needed for the operation and an employee who helps with, for example, the preparation of boxes.

Robotization

We are also seeing robots taking over the work of humans in other crops in agriculture. Earlier we saw examples like the robot that counts ripe peppers, and the blueberry picker. Nor is the Sparter the only asparagus robot. Asparagus grower Neessen from Grashoek already worked with the AvL Compact S1560 by AvL Motion last year. Want to know more? Read also the interview of De Limburger with Teboza and Martens. 1Limburg made the video below: