Experts Share Insights and Experience with Vineyard Robots

There are many factors to consider when choosing a vineyard robot. Price, functionality and safety may be the first that come to mind, but soil type, geography and even the IT environment should also be considered.

At World FIRA 2025, Christophe Gaviglio of the French Institute of IFV (Institut Français de la Vigne et du Vin) interviewed representatives from Moët Hennessy and the grower cooperative Terrena about their vineyard robot selection process.

Vineyard Robot Selection and Testing

When asked what factors Terrena considered when selecting vineyard robots, Ludovic Patte, head of robotic development, cited price point, ease of use and versatility.

"As a cooperative, we wanted technology that was affordable, would increase profitability and accounted for the time constraints we all face,” Patte said. “We also wanted something that could multitask and be useful throughout the year.”

Joseph Malfait, Senior Wine Buyer, Material & Innovation CPL at Moët Hennessy recommended a two-part decision-making process: exploratory and operational.

“During the exploratory phase, the key consideration is the robot’s ability to perform a specific task such as tillage, traversing steep slopes, or applying a treatment in a specified situation,” Malfait said.

“In the operational evaluation phase, you look at the manufacturer. Is it a startup or an industrial company? Also consider what happens after the sale, ongoing support such as the company’s capacity to create driving maps for the robot.” Malfait added.

Altogether, Moët Hennessy trialed 18 machines, including 10 different models from nine different brands. The robots ranged from simple machines with small tools to larger robots designed to handle complicated tasks — with a price point of €100,000 or more. Testing took place over 140 hectares/346 acres.

Terrena also tested a variety of robots across diversified terrain, 15-20 hectares/37-49 acres in total. The testing area included 5 hectares in Muscadeux, 5 hectares in Touraine, 5 hectares in Anjou and another 2 or 3 additional hectare plots with different degrees of slope and soil types.

“We wanted to test as many contexts as possible so we could evaluate how the machines performed in different situations,” Patte said. “We used robots for tillage, weeding and the Pellanc inter-row crawler. We tried different tools and accessories and had the robots multitask as much as possible.”

Navigating the Vineyard: Challenges and Opportunities

Terrena’s tests revealed the robots were good at completing routine maintenance on smooth plots. The robots didn’t do as well in areas with extremely wet soil or plots with old vines and uneven rows.

The physical environment also affected the robots’ ability to navigate. During the discussion, Patte emphasised the importance of evaluating what will happen if the robot loses GPS connectivity. Some robots will fail, others may use alternate systems.

"Big trees can create a shadow where there’s no GPS. We had a small machine that did very well but others couldn’t go from one plot to another, even if the next plot was just a few meters away or across a footpath," Patte stated.

Patte suggested a collaborative approach to keeping the robots productive, "At night, you can give the robot easier plots. During the day, when you have employees around, you can put the robot in a more complicated environment and the employees can help when needed, such as guiding it to the next plot. It's like having another colleague, really. When it’s having difficulties, you help it out."

Malfait described how robots can help humans in return. “If you can have someone with a lot of experience who develops a back problem, they can still work,” Malfait said. “If someone can use a smartphone, they can use a robot.”

Robots Enable Precision Agriculture and Other Strategic Activities

Both Malfait and Patte described how vineyard robots can help winegrowers maximize their limited time and resources. Patte noted less time in the field meant more time for marketing and commoditisation while Malfait described opportunities for precision agriculture.

“With robotics, you can rethink possibilities,” Malfait said. “Rather than simply getting a tractor with a better cabin, robots open up a whole new approach to vineyard management. With the sensors and data collection robots provide, the wine grower can optimize their operation and fine-tune their approach to soil management, irrigation and even pest control.”

Both speakers acknowledged the need for wine growers to adapt their vineyards to accommodate robots. Patte noted wine growers may need to increase space between rows to give the robots more room to turn.

Malfait said the transition to robotic systems requires a shift in thinking. “A robot is not a replacement for a tractor. You have to rethink everything: how to get the robot out in the field, if it’s electric, how to charge it and also educating workers about the technology.”

He emphasised, however, the benefits of making the shift, “The lighter weight allows you to get into the plots more easily and robots with articulation can handle situations that are more complicated. Robots can work more hours and give you more opportunities for intervention.”

Watch the Entire Vinyard Robot Roundtable Discussion
The 28-minute roundtable recording is available to view in English and French on the FIRA Forum YouTube channel. Additional roundtable videos from World FIRA 2025 will be published throughout March and April 2025.