In the rapidly evolving landscape of agricultural technology, solar-powered robotic harvesters are carving out a niche for themselves, offering both autonomy and environmental benefits. As photovoltaic panels become more efficient and affordable, these solar harvesters are attracting significant interest. Two standout examples currently on the market are the Harvy500 from FineField in the Netherlands and the Teabot from Tregothnan, England’s only tea plantation.
FineField’s Harvy500 is specifically designed for blueberry harvesting. Since its first successful test in 2019 and full operational deployment in 2021, the Harvy500 has garnered considerable attention. The company has sold 39 units across various countries including the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Portugal, Romania, Poland, Israel, Canada, the US, and Australia. Capable of harvesting up to 1,000 kg of blueberries per hour, the Harvy500 ensures minimal fruit bruising and a ground loss rate of approximately 5%, which FineField claims is superior to handpicking.
The Harvy500 operates by moving at a set speed along rows of blueberry bushes, skimming the tops to collect berries and depositing them into packing containers while gently blowing away leaves and twigs. The machine then autonomously transports the filled bins to a storage area for pick-up. Although the Harvy500 is self-driving, it requires an operator for maneuvering between rows and adjusting settings such as height and speed. FineField Business Director Marcel Beelen explains that making the unit fully autonomous would be prohibitively expensive and notes that the machine does not stop if it encounters an object, necessitating supervised operation.
Solar power integration was chosen over battery swaps due to logistical convenience. “Battery swap in the field requires logistics,” Beelen says. “Batteries are heavy and swapping them can become difficult if the supplier changes the form of the batteries.” The biggest challenge was aligning the harvester’s power consumption with the solar power produced and ensuring sufficient battery capacity to operate all day, even on cloudy days. FineField is also exploring the potential for harvesting other berries, such as haskap, with minimal machine adaptation.
Meanwhile, Tregothnan in Cornwall has introduced the Teabot, a solar-powered robotic tea harvester. Although the Teabot is yet to make any sales, it has attracted inquiries from around the tea-growing world, as well as from academia and extension personnel. The Teabot can harvest up to 2 tonnes of tea leaves, covering a range of 8 km, which equates to about 10,000 tea bushes. Leaves are discharged into bulk bags made of collapsible fabric for collection.
The Teabot’s sensors enable it to operate at night, and while it currently functions with remote control, it is equipped for full GPS-guided autonomous operation. “We have not activated this as our new ‘river gardens’ are not in full production until 2026,” says spokesperson Jonathon Jones. The Teabot can also autonomously travel to the processing factory via private estate roads, a functionality that Tregothnan plans to activate by 2028. The solar panels were seamlessly integrated into the design, and the 18kw array can charge interchangeable batteries if needed. Tregothnan is also developing versions of the Teabot for steep terrain and for plucking white tea leaves.
Both FineField and Tregothnan claim that their solar harvesters offer superior harvesting quality compared to human labor. FineField’s Harvy500 reduces fruit bruising, and Tregothnan’s Teabot boasts very precise snipping blades that maintain high pluck quality over extended periods, unaffected by human fatigue.
These advancements in solar-powered agricultural robotics not only promise efficiency and environmental benefits but also signal a transformative shift in how crops are harvested, potentially setting new standards for quality and sustainability in the industry.