Belgian-Dutch company Octiva is the first on the market to introduce a UV-C robot on a large scale that can drive autonomously through the greenhouse without using a pipe rail system. During a demo in Achtmaal last week, growers were able to see this latest Lumion member at work.
Navigating autonomously without pipe rails
Octiva’s UV-C robot has been commercially available for a while, but until now this robot always navigated on the pipe rails between the crops. With this new “no rail” application, UV-C technology is now more widely available. Lumion drives around on pneumatic tires and can perfectly keep the middle of the row using cameras and smart software. CEO Tom Coen: “This is a logical step after the success of Lumion with our customers. We often receive questions from growers without a pipe rail system and we can now answer them. Of course this platform is also compatible with our full range of applications.”
Without infrastructural changes
As always with Octiva’s robots, no adjustments to the infrastructure, not even markers, are required to be able to drive around. Thanks to smart technology, the robot is able to determine where it should drive and intervenes in unforeseen circumstances and safety situations. Thanks to intelligent trajectory generation, the robot can also quickly deal with changes in the greenhouse or cultivation.
Good news for growers who are still unsure whether they would install a pipe rail system in the near future, because “no rail” Lumion can easily be converted into a traditional pipe rail robot by equipping it with other wheels.
Successful demo
On April 3, growers from various auctions and cooperatives came to meet this latest variant of Lumion at Mark Roovers’ strawberry company in Achtmaal. Over the past years, Mark Roovers has acted as a pilot company to validate this version. There is a lot of demand from the sector for quickly deployable and reliable solutions to tackle mildew and other diseases, especially since chemicals have become increasingly difficult to apply.
Combat mildew with UV-C
It has long been known that treating crops with UV-C light is a very effective method of combatting various diseases. It has been proven that UV-C is an effective treatment of powdery mildew on a.o. strawberries. By using the UV-C robot, significantly less residue can be found on the fruits, thanks to autonomous application during the night. As of today, Lumion is available for soft fruit and high-wire crops, both with and without a pipe rail system.
Download the press release in English – in Dutch
