Agricultural Robotics on the Ground in Mareeba.
Agricultural Robotics is in Mareeba, Far North Queensland, this week as we begin a full schedule of grower engagement showcasing technology.
We’re kicking off this important grower engagement with a visit to the Department of Primary Industries’ Walkamin Research Station, a well-established hub for tropical horticulture innovation. Walkamin is known for its active contribution to the advancement of sustainable, data-driven farming practices. It’s the ideal setting for showcasing how agricultural automation and visual data can be used in real orchard environments.
Introducing the Orion Orchard Imager
At the heart of our display is the Orion Orchard Imager — a mobile, ruggedised machine vision system designed specifically for tree crop environments. Orion captures high-resolution, geolocated imagery of fruit and canopy across rows of trees as it passes through the mango orchard.
It uses calibrated cameras and onboard computing to process data, enabling growers and researchers to map flowering and fruit on the same tree. Forecast is aided by identifying the number and distribution of fruit across individual trees and blocks. This data provides an essential layer of insight for commercial orchards looking to reduce labour input on manual counts, improve yield accuracy, and make earlier, better-informed harvest decisions.
Turning Data into Insight: FruitMaps
Once collected, Orion data feeds directly into FruitMaps, our grower-friendly data visualisation and decision-support platform.
FruitMaps allows users to view orchard data on an interactive digital map, filter by key indicators (like fruit maturity or block performance), and compare trends over time. Whether you’re a farm manager planning harvest labour or a researcher monitoring treatment zones, the system enables:
- Precision harvest forecasting
- Block-level zone management
- Historical analysis and benchmarking
- Integration with other agronomic systems
FruitMaps was designed in close consultation with growers to be accessible, intuitive, and relevant to real-world operations.
Why Walkamin?
Walkamin Research Station plays a pivotal role in supporting the Queensland horticulture industry through applied research and grower-facing extension. Their capacity to support structured evaluation, coupled with direct contact with local producers, makes them a valuable partner for validating new agricultural technologies like ours.
By working alongside institutions like DPI at Walkamin, Agricultural Robotics can ensure that the systems we develop are not only scientifically robust but also practical and scalable in Australian orchards. It’s an important step as we prepare to launch our next generation of commercial units to regions like the FNQ and beyond.
Come Say Hello
If you’re in the region this week or attending the FNQ Rotary Field Days, we’d love to catch up and show you the technology in person. Our team — Rafael Goulart, Hiroko Maruki, Amanda White, and others — will be available for one-on-one discussions and field demonstrations. Find us at Booth Q7 in the Hort Innovation marquee.
We’re here to collaborate, learn from growers, and explore how data and automation can support the future of horticulture.
Get in touch, or swing by the Field Days – we look forward to seeing you
