Case Studies Icaro X4 - The robot from Free Green Nature that protects the vine.

Icaro X4 - The robot from Free Green Nature that protects the vine.

The new Smartris package applied to the agricultural sector.

The challenge

To move an autonomous guided vehicle on an external and irregular surface.

Icaro X4 was born from a collaboration with the start-up Free Green Nature to contribute to the Farm to Fork strategy: an objective set by the European Community to reduce the use of pesticides by 50% in agriculture and viticulture by 2030.

With Icaro X4, we are working towards our vision of creating a healthier world. By collaborating in the creation of an agricultural machine with integrated UV-C irradiation panels, we support sustainable viticulture and the production of organic wine.

The robot must be able to move autonomously on an irregular and sloping ground, carrying the heavy load of the folding panels. For us it means putting our co-design skills into play to develop a solution that guarantees autonomous movement on agricultural land: a challenge that until now, we have not had the opportunity to explore.

The value of sustainability in viticulture

The protection of the vine is fundamental, especially in a territory like the Veneto region, which is dedicated to the production of Prosecco and other highly regarded wines of the world. Veneto has been focused on sustainability with regulations that prohibit the use of glyphosate as early as 2019, making the Valdobbiadene district the largest European glyphosate-free wine-growing territory.

Sustainability in agriculture is a goal pursued throughout Europe. For some years the germicidal power of UV-C radiation has been used to disinfect environments and surfaces in hospitals and public places but also to support crops. For the first time, an autonomous guided vehicle, Icaro X4, is designed to bring panels irradiating ultraviolet rays to agricultural land and outdoor cultivation.

Free Green Nature S.r.l.

Free Green Nature S.r.l. is a highly innovative start-up that develops cutting-edge systems for viticulture, green systems, artificial intelligence and other high tech designs. The research center designed and developed the Icaro robot, from mechanics to electronics, software and firmware, all internally.

https://www.freegreen-nature.it/

The development

Collaborating on Icaro X4 by adapting Smartris for this new application has been a challenge from the beginning. The technical specifications are very complex to ensure the agricultural vehicle is fully autonomous between the rows of vines. In fact, the agricultural landscape has some peculiarities that have influenced the development of the robot: its natural irregularity, the continuous mutations, and the inconstant slope of vineyard plots. Therefore, the robot needs a motorized system with the power to overcome all obstacles. It will also require the force to keep the sloping center of gravity stable, protection from atmospheric agents and a precise radius of curvature. Smartris, designed for AGV applications, is a product that perfectly lends itself to being adapted to agricultural applications.

Lafert's solution

After several months of analysis, design and prototyping to customize the Smartris package, the robot is able to move freely between the vines overcoming the obstacles of slope and the varying landscape. Additionally, the robot is equipped with the necessary protection from atmospheric agents. Once again, “Made in Italy” proves to be the pinnacle of technological innovation, gathering the interest of winemakers from all over Europe.

We are proud to be part of the Icaro X4 project, demonstrating the ability to adapt and customize our motors. To move between the rows, the robot uses four Smartris packages for traction, to which four steering systems are added consisting of wheels with grip and steering. We provide all the motors necessary for operating the vehicle. This is how Icaro X4 was born: a robot with two foldable and adaptable lateral panels with integrated ultraviolet lamps that counteract fungal diseases of the vine such as late blight, powdery mildew and botrytis. For us, it means having contributed to this significant advancement for organic farming and supporting the environmental sustainability of our territory and the world.

Marco Cappelletto
Project Manager

Advanced Protection

We have designed a steering system that can support the rotary movement of Icaro X4 even uphill and on steep pavement, obtaining millimeter precision on the mapped route. The wheels used for the robot are particular to the agricultural sector and allow for easy movement on uneven and muddy ground.

Steering system

The solution, dedicated to the agricultural world, is equipped with an IP 65 degree of protection that allows it to excel in harsh outdoor environments such as in water, mud and around blunt objects. Only highly robust components that can tolerate strong and continuous shocks were chosen for this design.

The technical specifications in Icaro X4

Co-engineering has always been part of our DNA. Together with Free Green Nature, we have identified the necessary parameters and technical specifications to make the Icaro X4 an autonomous agricultural vehicle, while critically analyzing the type of land and the atmospheric environment of insertion. The drive has been developed specifically for this application and is produced in-house at Lafert ensuring maximum quality and control. For this project we chose the PRO line package, size L with rotational design on the outer ring of the gearbox.

Smartris is the first synergic solution co-designed by Lafert and Sumitomo, combining Lafert’s customized electric motors and drives with Sumitomo’s gears and gearboxes in an industry-leading product, offering the opportunity to make the difference through the relevant market.

Servomotor

The high torque density makes the Smartris servo motor ultra-compact but with the torque to continuously move the robot on a slope of more than 15% and on steep slopes for shorter distances. Thanks to the integration of the servo motor and drive, we guarantee the necessary control to navigate difficulties such as depressions, instability, or muddy holes.

The choice to equip the servo motor with a high-performance dynamic brake allows for controlled braking in the event of an emergency in addition to the parking function that can accommodate steep slopes.

Gear

Icaro X4 moves thanks to Sumitomo Cyclo Gears developed for maximum compactness. It reduces the space between the wheel and the gearbox, which in this execution are partially overlapped creating a rotating outer ring (RGH) to maintain the compact size of the gearbox.
In particular, Icaro X4 has been equipped with innovative hyper-resistant roller bearings that guarantee a radial load of 10,000N per wheel. This makes it easier to overcome the obstacles that may arise thanks to the increased capacity of the gear motor.

Drive

The Smartris drive has the typical characteristics of a servo drive for a brushless motor. The rapid communication between the drive and the control device using an optimized CANOpen protocol allows for the data exchange necessary to manage the correct alignment and performance of the 4 independent wheels.

The drive can also manage the dynamic brake of the motor so improving energy savings.

The technical specifications of Smartris:

Precise steering system due to the high level of technological components and advanced control system
High load capacity
Optimized driving with electronic differential to ensure movement on uneven ground
The compactness of the package allows the insertion of the gear motor in the wheel
High performance drive for system control is optimized for the application
Rotary outer ring gearbox that withstands high radial loads
Supply and assembly of dedicated wiring with connection via separate cable glands
Motor protection degree IP 65
Supply voltage 24Vdc
Entire package includes corrosion resistant coating
Special flange for coupling with the vehicle.

The future

Our goal was to contribute to the environmental sustainability of intensive viticulture sectors and facilitate the production of grapes without the use of harmful practices. The results exceeded all expectations by reducing the use of pesticides in the experimentation fields by 50%. Thanks to Icaro X4, we help wineries to achieve the high standards of sustainability and quality that make the difference in the current wine market.

We are proud to support the companies that believe in and contribute to the model of sustainable agriculture indicated by the European Farm to Fork strategy. Thanks to Icaro X4 the goal of reducing the use of pesticides in agriculture seems increasingly realistic and close: both the environment and our health will reap the benefits globally.

Today we are working to bring Icaro X4 on slopes over 15% without power reduction. The tests continue in a positive direction as the robot experiments with cultivating other species of fruit trees. Let's imagine introducing Smartris to different applications: Icaro X4 is an autonomous agricultural vehicle capable of carrying considerable weight, which can be entrusted with other tasks supporting sustainable cultivation, while also reducing human presence in the agricultural field.

ECO LINE - AGV Max weight 1500 kg

PRO LINE - AGV Max weight 3000 kg

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