Drones and robotics: winegrowing in the future

In 2018, an extensive special show during INTERVITIS INTERFRUCTA
HORTITECHNICA will also focus on the future-oriented topic of “drones and
robotics”. Organised jointly by the German Winegrowers’ Association (DWV) and
the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), this special show
will feature robots and drones in action every day at 10.00 and 15.00 in the Paul
Horn Hall (Hall 10). The scientific director of the robotics section is Prof. Dr.
Hans-Peter Schwarz from Geisenheim University (HGU). The special show will
present, for example, robots for grapevine pruning and processing under vines, as
well as an electronic foliage cutter. The scientific director of the drone section,
which will be held after each 30-minute-long robot demonstration, is Manuel
Becker from the State Teaching and Research Institute for Viticulture and
Pomology in Weinsberg (LVWO) in cooperation with droneparts.de. Drones
equipped with cameras will be used here, for example, for remote sensing, The
results can then be utilised for specific plant protection or needs-based irrigation.
The use of drones on flat terrain and steep slopes will also be simulated in this
respect. The topic will be completed by a final talk on the potential uses of drones
in winegrowing during the technical forum in conjunction with the special show. In
line with this topic, the technical forum will also contain exhibitors who will present
technical solutions and answer questions from trade visitors.