Niqo Robotics introduces spot spraying technology that fits any sprayer

Until recently, spot spraying was unknown on the Indian continent. But Niqo Robotics is rapidly changing that. The company shipped its flagship spot sprayer technology Niqo RoboSpray across the regions of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.

This season, Niqo Robotics has deployed 50 sprayers, that have covered over 90,000 acres this season. With a focus on cotton and chili crops this season, the company has served over 1.800 farmers and saved up to 60% in chemical costs using its AI technology. Currently, the spot sprayer technology can work in 7 crops.

Learning models

Niqo Robotics has developed an AI camera, built with deep learning models to differentiate between target and non-target areas to selectively spray the right dosage of chemicals only on the plant, without spraying the soil. The camera is equipped with integrated lighting, advanced AI processors and direct control of actuators.

The modular design can be easy installed on any existing agricultural equipment

According to the company, its technology is a field proven end to end precision solution that can see the plant, select the plant and spray the plant. “The modular design can be easy installed on any existing agricultural equipment to upgrade it to an AI spot sprayer”, Niqo Robotics says. “It is built to endure, and can withstand harsh outdoor conditions like extreme temperature, rain and fog.” The company’s technology can spot spray a range of crop care chemicals, such as pesticides, fungicides, insecticides, herbicides and liquid fertilizers.

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Return on investment

Niqo Robotics says its plant-level target spraying saves up to 60% in chemical input, maximizing return on investment for farmers and limiting chemical pollution on-farm ecosystems. Niqo Robotics says it has carried out 218 internal efficacy trials to confirm that its spot spraying technology maintains the agrochemical’s effectiveness in protecting against pests. This study has been externally validated by a leading agricultural university and is due for publication soon, the company says.

According to Niqo Robotics, the farmers who have used the technology, also reported up to 60% chemical cost savings in the early stages of spray without any compromise on efficacy.

Leasing of machines

Founder and CEO Jaisimha Rao says that Niqo robotics works with village level entrepreneurs, such as pesticide dealers, tractor dealers, and farmers who lease the machines. They then deploy the robot sprayers on local farms on an hourly or daily basis.

The future of Indian farming, due to its size, is robotics-as-a-service

CEO Rao says Niqo Robotics does not sell its sprayers because most Indian farmers have small farms, averaging around four acres. Farmers often can’t afford to buy a tractor just for spraying applications. Roa expects that the future of Indian farming, due to its size, is robotics-as-a-service, with village level entrepreneurs leading the charge as key enablers.

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Reliable for rugged farm operations

“Global food future hinges on how quickly tech-enabled sustainable practices like spot spraying can be adopted at scale” CEO Rao emphasises. “At Niqo we have built a commercially viable spot spray technology that is accessible to farmers and reliable for rugged farm operations. This has allowed us to scale making us a frontrunner in spot spray technology, globally. There is immense pride in driving this progress right here in India.”