By Jamie Martin
Yamaha Agriculture has expanded the capabilities of its Prospr autonomous vehicle platform with the launch of a new herbicide attachment designed specifically for orchard and vineyard weed management.
Developed in collaboration with Croplands Equipment, the attachment provides growers with another automated solution to improve efficiency and precision in field operations.
By enabling seamless integration with the autonomous vehicle, the attachment allows operators to switch between tasks quickly while maintaining consistent performance throughout the production cycle.
According to Yamaha Agriculture President and CEO Nolan Paul, growers are increasingly seeking technologies that address labor shortages while supporting long-term sustainability goals.
“Prospr was built to perform today and for the future. It is modular, AI-powered and can accommodate attachments made by our partners for a range of tasks. The new herbicide attachment highlights the platform’s flexibility to seamlessly support multiple applications across vineyards and orchards throughout the growing cycle.
“The new herbicide capability addresses a real need for growers seeking automation that integrates seamlessly into existing programs, particularly where labour availability and timing are a challenge, such as weed control which impacts the quality and performance of the grown crop.
“In partnership with growers, we are building a seamlessly connected future where sensing, autonomy, and intelligence work together to help them plan, act, and adapt with confidence.”
The herbicide attachment incorporates automated spraying functions, including nozzle activation, tank mixing, fluid-level sensing, and speed-based application adjustments.
Mechanical breakaway boom arms are designed to minimize damage when navigating around orchard trees, vineyard posts, and other obstacles.
The system also offers flexible chemical management through either direct tank mixing or inline dosing options.
Integration with Yamaha Agriculture’s digital management tools and Multi-Vehicle Remote technology enables a single operator to monitor and manage several autonomous vehicles simultaneously.
Prospr continues to gain traction in major specialty crop regions across the United States. Its hybrid diesel-electric powertrain can operate for up to 40 hours and significantly reduce fuel use.
Combined with precision spraying, remote diagnostics, and fleet management capabilities, the platform helps growers increase efficiency, improve consistency, and support more sustainable orchard and vineyard operations.
Photo Credit: yamaha-agriculture
Categories: National