This month’s edition of “Gizmos and Gadgets” features a small, smart robot tractor; articulating solar panels; topical calming pheromones; and a handheld battery-powered vaccination tool. 

Smart, small robot tractor

As farmers themselves, those at BOPA Precision Agriculture recognize the difficulty of maintaining a farm while managing costs, physical tolls and industry trends. That’s why they developed the ANT — an Autonomous Nano Tractor (ANT) that can weed, spray and grow your farm.

The ANT’s benefit to small- and medium-sized farms goes beyond its on-the-ground tasks. ANTs are equipped with smart technology that allows for enhancements and add-ons, so your team of ANTs can grow and learn alongside you and your farm.

Tech solutions take the hard work out of routine tasks like weeding and planting. Automating these processes reduces labor costs and improves efficiency, giving more time to manage the farm effectively.

For more information, visit https://bit.ly/4yh2fDn. 

Articulating solar panels for agrivoltaic operations

 Helical Solar’s cutting-edge technologies are transforming energy use in agriculture and remote locations, providing sustainable and efficient power solutions.

The company’s dual-axis articulating solar arrays achieve 45% greater energy productivity than conventional static panels. Engineered with a geo-positioned tracking system, these optimized bifacial arrays follow the sun’s movement across the sky, maximizing energy capture even during the winter months and ensuring the full capture of available solar energy.

The world’s first in-pen feedlot agrivoltaic solution also accommodates full-height row crops, while not being obtrusive to the operations of the land. Towering at 4 meters, suspended above any cattle and crops, the design allows ag implements to clear the solar arrays. Providing one-phase and three-phase power options, these agrivoltaic solutions can scale to meet the needs of rural farms and heavy industry.

The innovative design prioritizes animal comfort, reducing heat stress and creating an environment that fosters better health and increased yields for livestock. 

For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3RijIe7. 

Cattle experience stress from everyday events — weaning, transportation, vaccination and weather changes. These stressors activate the brain’s threat response, increasing cortisol and inflammation while lowering immunity and feed efficiency.

Modeled after a naturally occurring substance secreted by the skin of lactating cows, mBAS helps reduce stress and promote a sense of calmness in cattle. It provides a sustained, long-lasting calming effect.

When applied to the skin above the muzzle, CattleZen’s pheromones are detected by the vomeronasal organ inside the nasal cavity — a key sensory organ that interprets chemical communication.

For more information, visit https://bit.ly/4pqqN9c 

Battery-powered vaccination tool

Henke Sass Wolf (HSW) Power-VACC and HSW Power-VACCPRO are designed to set new standards in animal vaccination, offering advanced solutions that prioritize precision, efficiency and adaptability — thanks to customizable injection modes that support both high-precision and high-volume vaccination workflows. 

The Power-VACC and Power-VACCPRO are designed for reliable and precise vaccinations. The multifunctional application supports intradermal, subcutaneous, intramuscular and nasal administration. Give fast, accurate injections for all animal species with cutting-edge technology.