The AgriPV‑Bot project, carried out by AI.Land GmbH from 1 September 2022 to 29 February 2024, aimed to demonstrate a fully autonomous, energy‑self‑sufficient system that integrates photovoltaic (PV) power generation with robotic vegetable cultivation on a single circular field. The core concept is a semi‑mobile platform that performs all crop‑management tasks—from soil preparation and sowing to harvesting—while a 360‑degree rotating PV array supplies the necessary electricity and reduces plant shading. The project’s goal was to validate this synergy, assess its technical feasibility, and evaluate its potential for commercial deployment in the competitive vegetable‑production market.
The technical development began with a detailed mechanical design. Finite‑element simulations of the main traverse confirmed structural integrity under expected loads, and a CAD model of the pivot column and sliding carriage was produced. An electric concept for the carriage, including motor selection and power electronics, was integrated into a comprehensive control architecture. The control system was implemented as a state machine, with separate states for field preparation, sowing, monitoring, and harvesting. Software modules were developed within the Odoo ERP framework to manage individual plant cultivation, field records, and sensor data.
A digital twin of the prototype was created to simulate the full operation cycle. The twin was calibrated against laboratory tests on an indoor test stand, where robotic grasping and cutting tools were evaluated. The simulation environment was expanded to include realistic soil and plant models, enabling virtual trials of the harvesting sequence. The digital twin’s predictions matched the physical prototype’s performance within a small margin, confirming the validity of the simulation approach.
Field trials were conducted in spring 2023 and throughout 2024 on a test plot. Initial sensor tests confirmed reliable detection of kohlrabi plants using the onboard vision system. Subsequent trials demonstrated successful identification, precise cutting, and collection of kohlrabi heads. The robot was able to harvest the crop autonomously, producing mixed vegetable baskets directly on the field. The PV array supplied sufficient power for all operations, and the 360‑degree rotation minimized shading, allowing continuous plant growth. While the report does not provide explicit yield or energy‑efficiency figures, the qualitative results indicate that the integrated PV‑robotic system can operate without external power and perform all key cultivation tasks.
The project was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture under the grant number DBU‑AZ 38214/01. AI.Land GmbH led the design, construction, and testing phases, coordinating with local agricultural research partners and technology suppliers. The collaboration involved interdisciplinary teams of mechanical engineers, software developers, agronomists, and PV specialists, all working within the defined timeframe to deliver a functional prototype and a comprehensive set of test data.
In conclusion, the AgriPV‑Bot project successfully demonstrated the feasibility of a self‑powered, fully automated vegetable‑cultivation system that combines photovoltaic energy generation with robotic field operations. The prototype’s performance in laboratory and field conditions validates the concept’s technical soundness and provides a solid foundation for future product development and potential commercial scaling.