Toulouse – France
September 24, 2020
The Ted robot, recognised as an efficient, innovative weeding solution by many wine-growers, is continuing its fine-tuning. The premier viticulture robot is continuing to make a name for itself as its new version is set to work for Hennessy and Bernard Magrez, long-time partners of the manufacturer.
Developed three years ago by Naïo Technologies, a pioneering company in agricultural robotics, Ted is the first autonomous, 100% electric high-clearance tool dedicated to the mechanical weeding of vines. The robot has quickly generated strong interest in the wine-growing sector, which is looking very closely at this solution.
More than twenty Teds are now working in various vineyards. This high-clearance tool, capable of working autonomously among the vines, responds to the sector’s current needs. Ted limits soil compaction and thanks to its mechanical weeding will allow the elimination of allow chemical weedkillers, while still remaining environmentally-friendly thanks to its entirely electric operation. The robot is therefore continuing to improve in the hands of its wine-growing experts in terms of reliability, autonomy and safety.
“The Bernard Magrez Estate is convinced that robotisation will play a fundamental role in the mechanical maintenance of the land over the next few decades. Electrical power, the absence of greenhouse gas emissions and noise pollution are the main focus of our commitment to the environment. In this, we have developed a 4-year partnership with Naïo Technologies to perfect a robot capable of carrying out the majority of the soil maintenance work among the vines” highlights Arnaud Delaherche, R&D Manager of the Bernard Magrez Estate.
This confidence is reinforced by a common desire to promote an innovative, technological solution already in existence and to prepare it for tomorrow: the Ted robot.
“Within the context of its commitments on sustainable wine growing and to support its partner wine producers, the Hennessy company is testing many different solutions in its vineyards to promote more virtuous wine growing. The R&D partnership project with Naïo Technologies is fully compatible with this approach. The development of the Ted robot is therefore an innovative alternative to the use of weedkillers. Its light weight and adaptability, as well as its electrical operation, are assets in view of the development of sustainable wine growing in the Charente region,” specifies Mathilde Boisseau, Hennessy Vine and Wine Manager.
From July onwards, they will be the first ones to test the new version of the Ted robot before its official launch planned for September.
Naïo Technologies
Anouck Lefebvre
Head of Communications
Naïo Technologies
235 rue de la montagne noire
31750 Escalquens
Tel: +33 6 43 06 64 90
Mail: anouck.lefebvre@naio-technologies.com
About Naïo Technologies
Created by robotics engineers Gaëtan Séverac and Aymeric Barthes in 2011, Naïo Technologies is an Agtech company based in Toulouse which designs, manufacturers and markets agricultural robotics solutions co-built with farmers and consumers. Being people- and environmentally-friendly, these weeding robots can, in particular, compensate for the lack of an agricultural workforce, reduce the drudgery linked with some agricultural tasks and limit the need for chemical inputs. To date, nearly 150 robots are in circulation worldwide, including Oz, designed for diversified market gardeners, Dino for weeding mound-grown vegetables and Ted, for wine growing.
