Researchers from the Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (IAS) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in Córdoba have developed an innovative agricultural robot that is transforming the way we study and improve crops. This is CROPTIMUS-PRIME, a field phenotyping platform that enables the analysis of observable plant traits with unprecedented precision, as reported in Andalucía Informa.
The project is led by researcher José Antonio Jiménez Berni, who explains that CROPTIMUS-PRIME “is a Spanish robotic platform that combines LiDAR technology — high-precision 3D laser remote sensing — and hyperspectral data, allowing for millimeter-accurate crop measurements.” According to the scientist, this development “has been designed to revolutionize agricultural research and open new possibilities in precision agriculture.”
Inspired by space exploration robots, CROPTIMUS-PRIME features four drive and steering wheels, providing great stability and ability to traverse irregular agricultural terrains. Its modular and autonomous design allows it to integrate a wide variety of sensors and adapt to different crop types, from cereals to legumes and herbaceous plants.
Its instruments include LiDAR cameras, which create high-resolution 3D reconstructions to estimate height, biomass, and crop architecture. It also includes hyperspectral sensors that analyze reflected light from plants to determine their water content, chlorophyll, pigments, and metabolites, as well as their stress levels. Additionally, the robot is equipped with thermal cameras to measure canopy temperature and RGB cameras for detailed visual analysis.
“Thanks to these technologies, CROPTIMUS-PRIME enables monitoring the entire crop cycle without destroying plots, providing objective and repeatable data that surpass traditional measurement limitations,” highlights Jiménez Berni. The robot is particularly focused on genetic improvement trials, accelerating the selection of more productive and climate-resilient varieties.
But its potential extends beyond the laboratory. “CROPTIMUS-PRIME is a key tool for advancing precision agriculture and bringing digitalization closer to farmers, facilitating more efficient, sustainable, and accessible systems even for small farms,” emphasizes the IAS-CSIC researcher.
A 100% Spanish development
The project results from collaboration between the IAS-CSIC, responsible for the design and data analysis software — developed by the AgroPhenoLab laboratory led by Jiménez Berni; the Agrobot company, specialized in agricultural robotics, which built the robot; and Grupo Álava, which supplied and configured the advanced sensors.
“This project puts Spain at the forefront of smart agriculture, combining science, technology, and sustainability,” emphasizes Jiménez Berni. “CROPTIMUS-PRIME represents a strategic advance because it provides objective and precise measurements, improves decision-making in research and production, reduces costs and trial times, and contributes to food security and climate resilience.”