XAG has introduced the R Series Agricultural Rover, an electric ground robot designed for orchards, vineyards, and greenhouses. The launch follows broader efforts within specialty crop farming to adopt automated systems for managing labor-intensive production.
According to the company, the R Series is intended to support precision spraying and autonomous navigation in environments where conventional machinery is less effective. The release cites data from the USDA Economic Research Service indicating that labor represents about 38 percent of production costs for specialty crop farms, a factor that has contributed to increased interest in automation.
The series includes two models for different planting conditions. The R100 Agricultural Rover is designed for dense crops such as greenhouse vegetables. It has a compact frame, a 120-liter tank, four-wheel drive, and two JetSprayers that deliver up to 8 liters per minute, with a stated full-load operating time of 30 minutes per charge. The R200 Agricultural Rover, intended for wider-spaced orchards and vineyards, is equipped with a 240-liter tank, six-wheel drive, and four JetSprayers, with a reported full-load operating time of 15 minutes per charge.
Both models use XAG’s centrifugal JetSprayer system, which produces 60–200-micron droplets and has a horizontal spray reach of up to seven meters per side. Each rover is built on an aluminum chassis with a suspended portal axle and measures 80 centimeters in width. XAG reports a net weight of 80 kilograms for the R100 with RevoSpray installed and 130 kilograms for the R200 under the same configuration, with both models rated for a maximum 20 percent grade.
Control is provided through the SRC 5 Smart Remote Controller, which combines touchscreen functions, dual joysticks, and real-time monitoring. The rover’s automation features include Cruise Mode, Path Tracking, Repeat Mode, and an onboard RealTerra mapping system that generates field imagery for route planning. AI-based safety functions monitor surrounding conditions and adjust movement when obstacles or pedestrians are detected.
