About the ARA Precision Sprayer
The ARA from ecoRobotix brings camera-guided precision spraying to standard farm tractors. Mounted on the three-point linkage, the six-metre implement carries an array of cameras that continuously scan the ground beneath the boom, with onboard computers identifying weeds between and within crop rows in real time. When a weed is confirmed, the nearest nozzle delivers a targeted micro-dose directly onto it rather than treating the whole boom width, reducing herbicide volumes by up to ninety-five percent in suitable conditions. Because the ARA uses the tractor’s own hydraulics and the operator’s familiar driving patterns, it slots into existing workflows without the learning curve of a fully autonomous platform. The system works in crops such as sugar beet, onions, carrots and rapeseed, treating both inter-row and intra-row weeds that conventional band sprayers miss. Developed and proven in Swiss and European conditions, the ARA gives mid-sized farms access to the same plant-level precision as high-end self-propelled systems at a fraction of the complexity. For growers balancing chemical reduction targets with commercial yields, it converts any modern tractor into a precision weeding machine.
Key Specifications
- Six-metre mounted implement for standard tractors
- Camera array detects weeds across full boom width
- Targeted micro-dosing cuts herbicide up to 95 percent
- Treats inter-row and intra-row weeds
- Works in sugar beet, onions, carrots, rapeseed
- Uses standard tractor hydraulics and linkage
- Proven in Swiss and European field conditions
- Real-time onboard processing, no connectivity needed
Retrofit Precision For Existing Tractors
Many farms cannot justify a dedicated autonomous weeding robot, but nearly every farm already owns a suitable tractor. The ARA exploits that reality by mounting on the three-point linkage and using the tractor’s hydraulics and cab, instantly upgrading familiar equipment into a precision spraying system. The operator drives normal field patterns while the implement handles detection and targeting automatically, so adoption requires hours of training rather than weeks. The six-metre working width matches the scale of mid-sized European farms, covering useful daily hectarage without specialised logistics. When the season ends, the implement unhooks and stores like any other sprayer, leaving the tractor free for the rest of the annual workload and spreading machinery investment across multiple enterprises.
Maximum Herbicide Reduction
Where weed pressure is moderate, the ARA’s plant-level targeting delivers some of the deepest chemical reductions available in commercial agriculture, with ecoRobotix reporting savings of up to ninety-five percent of herbicide volume. The system achieves this by firing individual nozzles only when its cameras confirm a weed in the spray zone, replacing blanket coverage with thousands of independent micro-decisions per hectare. The financial benefit compounds across every treated hectare and every season, while the environmental benefit supports compliance with pesticide reduction schemes and protects the farm’s standing with regulators and neighbours. Documented reductions of this scale also strengthen applications for sustainability certifications and premium supply contracts that reward measurable input stewardship.
Intra Row Weed Targeting
The weeds that cost the most yield are the ones growing inside the crop row, centimetres from the crop plant, where no hoe or band sprayer can safely reach. The ARA’s high-resolution cameras distinguish crop from weed even at close spacing, and its targeted nozzles place a micro-dose on the weed without coating the neighbouring crop. This capability is transformative in crops like onions and carrots, which grow slowly, canopy late and suffer severely from early competition. Growers can finally control the last reservoir of weeds that survives every other pass. Cleaner intra-row zones translate directly into stronger plant stands, more uniform sizing at harvest and fewer weeds going to seed inside the protected crop canopy.
Reliable Operation Without Connectivity
Cloud-dependent precision systems fail exactly where farms need them most: in remote fields with poor signal. The ARA performs all detection and targeting onboard in real time, so its precision does not depend on mobile coverage, subscriptions or server availability. The cameras, processors and nozzle controls form a self-contained loop that works identically in the furthest corner of the farm as beside the workshop. This architecture also keeps operating data physically under the farm’s control and removes recurring connectivity costs from the business case. For growers in rural areas where bandwidth is unreliable, the ARA delivers modern precision with the dependability of conventional machinery that simply starts and works every morning.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much chemical can the ARA save?
ecoRobotix reports herbicide reductions of up to ninety-five percent compared with broadcast spraying, depending on weed pressure. Targeted nozzles only fire when a weed is detected, so clean areas receive no chemical at all during the pass.
What width does the ARA cover?
The implement has a six-metre working width, sized for mid-scale farms and standard tractor power classes. The full width is covered by the camera array, so targeting precision applies across the entire boom rather than only a central strip.
Which tractors can carry it?
The ARA mounts on a standard three-point linkage and uses conventional tractor hydraulics, so most modern utility tractors in the appropriate power class can operate it. ecoRobotix confirms compatibility based on lift capacity and hydraulics.
What crops is it suited to?
The system is proven in sugar beet, onions, carrots, rapeseed and similar row crops. Its cameras and detection models handle both inter-row and intra-row weeds, especially valuable in slow-growing, late-canopy crops.
Does it need internet in the field?
No. All weed detection and nozzle targeting is processed onboard in real time. The system works identically in fields with no mobile coverage, with no dependence on cloud services for its core precision functions.
How fast can it operate?
The ARA works at normal spraying speeds appropriate for the crop and conditions, with the camera and nozzle system making targeting decisions continuously. Daily hectarage is comparable to conventional six-metre mounted spraying.
Can it treat weeds inside the crop row?
Yes, intra-row targeting is one of its key strengths. High-resolution imaging distinguishes weeds growing between crop plants, and precision nozzles dose the weed directly without spraying the neighbouring crop.
Is it difficult to learn to operate?
Operators drive normal field patterns as with any mounted sprayer, while the ARA handles detection and targeting automatically. Most operators become confident after a short orientation, since no change in driving technique is required.
