Powered by quiet-running electric motors, the laser, camera and GPS-guided prototype of the French-made Anatis robot enjoyed a great deal of attention at last week’s French SIMA show. Automatically hoeing between and within crop rows (minimum row spacing 20cm) grown in beds, the autonomous vehicle also monitors and collects information on the number and types of weeds, crop density, light levels, soil moisture content, and even the temperature of the air and soil. Made by French cultivator maker Carré SAS, with assistance from French robotics company Naïo Technologies, users only need to programme the vehicle with the length of the field and numbers of beds. The vehicle then takes over, automatically turning at the headland into the next bed. The only downside is a fully-charged battery lasts just four hours, with another four hours needed to re-charge it. The company recommends buying a second battery, but reveals a hybrid version fitted with a small diesel engine to re-charge the battery during work is coming. After a successful year’s work with the prototype, any final tweaks will be made this season, but the company is already confident the Anatis is nearly ready for a commercial launch. It will go on sale early 2016 and will cost around €43,000.