VitiBot is a French industrial company, on the market of autonomous and electric vineyards robots. The company accompanies the winegrowers in the improvement of their vineyards with the latest technological solutions. VitiBot reconciles contemporary environmental and economic issues by offering a driverless solution. Finally, our vineyards robots ensure greater hygiene and safety for workers in the vineyards.
VitiBot has created a universal platform to accommodate a large number of smart and power tools. The company's objective is to place the technological breakthrough called Bakus in the context of sustainable viticulture.
The story of VitiBot began in 2015 with the creation of the Hector project, which generated a strong interest in the viticulture community. Since then, many steps have marked the evolution of the company.
In 2022, VitiBot became a subsidiary of European agricultural equipment manufacturer SAME Deutz Fahr (SDF Group), consolidating its position as a leader in vineyard robotics
Paul Vincent Ariston makes his debut at Bakus in his Champagne vineyards in Brouillet (Marne).
Bakus, in the list of subsidized equipment for the third agricultural revolution. The “equipment for the third agricultural revolution” measure of the France 2030 plan implemented by FranceAgriMer was launched on Monday, March 6, 2023.
In November 2017, VitiBot was rewarded at the “ID Boite” 2017 challenge, organized by ID Champagne-Ardenne for the creation of its robot Hector, its embedded technology and the health and environmental challenges it is able to solve.
In November 2016, Hector experiences many changes. Cédric BACHE designs, in addition to this project, a second functional prototype of an autonomous viticole machine. To develop and mature his two projects, they move to a house in Châlons-en-Champagne with his team.
February 2018, Hector considered as the proof of concept on the technical feasibility and field viability of an autonomous viticultural robot, gives way to the new Bakus project. The assembly of this 100% electric and 100% autonomous single-row bridge crane starts in February.
At the beginning of 2018, in order to have the necessary means to welcome a larger team of engineers, to be able to carry out on-site tests and to start the local industrialization of the future Bakus robot, VitiBot moves to Reims in 4000m² industrial premises.
Delivery of Bakus models S and L in France such as: Domaine Vranken (Champagne), Châteaux Garraud (Bordeaux), Domaine Louis Moreau (Chablis)
In August, rather than adapting existing means, VitiBot decided to create a new concept: “Bakus”, the robotized platform, 100% autonomous and 100% electric, able to meet the needs of tomorrow’s viticulture. This creation is a technological breakthrough in the vineyard will allow to reconcile the environmental, social and economic issues facing winegrowers.
The European agricultural equipment manufacturer SAME Deutz-Fahr (SDF Group) has acquired a majority stake in the French vineyard robotics specialist VitiBot.
Thanks to VitiBot’s innovative project, the company joins the BPI excellence network and benefits from an extensive network.
VitiBot, the global leader in vineyard robotics, announces a major extension of the warranty for its flagship product Bakus and its tools. From now on, all VitiBot vineyard robots will benefit from a 5-year or 3,000-hour extended warranty, underscoring the company’s commitment to quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction.
VitiBot launches a new range of electric tools to enhance the modularity of Bakus. The electric mower, electric undervine mower, and electric trimmer now join the existing line-up of soil and canopy management tools.
February 2018, Hector considered as the proof of concept on the technical feasibility and field viability of an autonomous viticultural robot, gives way to the new Bakus project. The assembly of this 100% electric and 100% autonomous single-row bridge crane starts in February.
VitiBot is exhibiting Bakus, its straddling robot, at trade fairs in France and abroad, including : Terres Innovations, VITEFF, SITEVI, SIMEI
Hector was ready to put his algorithms to the test. VitiBot worked in all 4 corners of the Champagne region to develop a reliable guidance technology, and arrive at an accomplished system. Thanks to the conclusive results obtained with this prototype, VitiBot benefited from high visibility, and was presented to the French Prime Minister at the time, Édouard Philippe.
Bakus is presented to the professional public for the first time at the Terre Innovation trade show in Reims. Initial demonstrations arouse interest. The first customers placed orders.
Bakus on the list of agro-equipment subsidized by France AgriMer! As part of the ecological planning appropriations designed to accelerate the transition to greener, more modern, more efficient, more competitive and more sovereign French agriculture, a new aid scheme has been set up from Monday June 03, designed to reduce the use of plant protection products, or even replace them, through technological investment.
Despite the COVID-19, Bakus gave numerous demonstrations across France, in Provence, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne…
VitiBot announces the arrival of a prestigious new shareholder: Marchesi Antinori, one of Italy’s oldest family-owned fine wine producers. This strategic partnership marks a major milestone in the company’s development and highlights its commitment to ever more sustainable and innovative viticulture.
To consolidate its strategy, VitiBot has raised 3 million euros in funding, notably from major Champagne houses, vineyard professionals and manufacturers. This first round of funding will enable the company to accelerate its development and prepare for commercialization, scheduled for 2019.
From factory to vineyard: the birth of the 100th Bakus, the leading vineyard robot. To celebrate this milestone, VitiBot reveals for the first time the full story of its flagship product. Discover how Bakus is built and delivered to the prestigious Haut-Bailly estate. Exclusive interview with Véronique Sanders, CEO of Château Haut-Bailly, on why she chose to trust VitiBot.
VitiBot is the winner of the Vinitech Sifel Innovation Awards in the cultivation techniques category.
To help you achieve your goals, it is imperative that our products are effective. This is what we work on every day.
It is an unwavering engagement that drives our teams on a daily basis. So that our electric vineyards straddle become a reference in terms of clean and safe vine work.
The strong cohesion between the design offices and all the VitiBot services is justified by a unique and common project. To make Bakus THE wine robot of tomorrow.
Because we are aware of the importance of changing viticultural practices and more generally the modes of cultivation and consumption, for a future that is more respectful of our planet.
Technologies evolve every day, our robots follow the trends. Our Design Offices offer processes at the cutting edge of innovation, allowing us to provide you with ever more efficient service and work on your vines.
“Meeting the challenges of sustainable viticulture together.”
Designing and producing vineyards robots : VitiBot’s ambition is to make wine-growing practices evolve towards a sustainable viticulture with practical and concrete answers to the major contemporary challenges: increase the safety of operators, protect the vineyard and biodiversity, reduce the environmental footprint of viticulture.
VitiBot is committed, as an industrial company, to create materials that respect the environment, biodiversity, vines and people on a global scale.
More than 80% of our products are made with Made In France components in order to favour proximity with our service providers, suppliers and collaborators and to reduce our carbon footprint.
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« I believed in this project from the beginning. » remembers Paul-Vincent Ariston, winegrower in Brouillet (Marne).
The straddle tractor causes musculoskeletal disorders in the worker. Because of its height, it can also be dangerous. “Two or three fatal accidents a year,” he says.
Over the past 5-7 years, I’ve had more and more trouble finding people,” he says. “I’m even forced to recruit Poles”.
Bakus is an ideal companion
Excerpt from France 3
Cléo, viticole worker in a prestigious champagne house
“Bakus brings us more security, less hassle and ease of use”
“As a woman, I would go more to the Bakus than a traditional straddle,” says Cleo.
“It’s clean, I didn’t want to do tractor training because I’m afraid to ride on a straddle. The Bakus is a very good compromise and I find it aesthetically very beautiful. ”
Mathieu, tractor driver and vines worker in a prestigious champagne house.
“Security level, intuitive and well thought out” is what Mathieu thinks.
In conclusion, he adds: “Bakus is easy to use. Its handling is very intuitive and does not pose any problem”.
Loic, vines worker and tractor operator in a prestigious champagne house
“Bakus is a work companion, especially on the safety aspect, especially on difficult plots with a tractor” says Loic, who therefore sees the wine robot as an additional tool to accompany tractor drivers and make their work safer.
“The straddle spanner is very easy to use and we feel that it was designed with that in mind for us”.
Anthony, foreman and area manager in a prestigious champagne house
“Safety standards, mounting and dismounting of tools, loading and unloading on the trailer, very intuitive at all levels” for Anthony.
“Bakus brings a simplicity of work, and will make it possible to respect more and more the standards on the phytosanitary products”.
VitiBot, a company of
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