“The Tireless Worker”: Russia’s New Agrorobot to Free Farmers from Repetitive Tasks
Russian innovators are breaking new ground in agricultural robotics. Developed in Vologda, this mobile agrorobot is engineered to take over monotonous duties on both farms and in the field. Compact, versatile, and AI‑driven, it showcases Russia’s growing leadership in ag‑tech and promises tangible benefits for farmworkers worldwide.
AI‑Powered Vision for Efficient Farming
Developed by researchers and students at the Vologda State Dairy Farming Academy (named after N.V. Vereshchagin) together with the Youth Center for Innovative Mechanical Technologies, the prototype agrorobot leverages advanced computer vision to automate routine tasks. Commissioned by the Rusy agricultural cooperative in Sheksninsky District, Vologda Oblast, it was unveiled in June 2025.
“We need a mobile device that can support human labor — and in some tasks even replace it,” explained Alexander Solomonov, Chairman of Rusy. “For example, transporting milk to our ‘calf village’ and delivering it individually to each calf according to a preset schedule. This will conserve human effort and boost overall productivity.”
This effort is part of Russia’s national “Technological Support for Food Security” project, launched by the Ministry of Agriculture in 2025. The development team is already expanding the robot’s capabilities to cover additional on‑farm operations.
Democratizing Agri‑Automation and National Impact
Affordability and simplicity set this agrorobot apart. Without relying on GPS or GLONASS, it uses onboard cameras to identify and follow its operator, starting and stopping in sync with human movement. Basic command sets allow any farmworker to operate it, while only periodic maintenance requires an engineer.
“Integrating cutting‑edge technologies into agriculture is a top priority for our region,” stated Sergey Voropaev, Minister of Agriculture of Vologda Oblast. “Innovations demand both intellectual and financial resources. Developers receive incentive payments from commissioning farms, and the state reimburses up to 90 percent of project costs.”
On a broader scale, Russia’s federal “Artificial Intelligence” program (within the Digital Economy initiative) and the industry association InterAgroTech’s “Smart Bread” program are driving AI adoption across the sector. In late 2024, Russian firm Cognitive Pilot began mass production of the world’s first fully autonomous AI tractor. Elsewhere, an automated tomato harvester debuted in Stavropol Territory in October 2024, and a feeding robot rolled out at a dairy farm in Karelia.
Future Outlook and Expert Insight
The Vologda agrorobot reflects a clear trend toward compact, adaptable automation for small and medium‑sized farms. Pilot trials are slated for late 2025 in Vologda Oblast, with a broader rollout and new task modules planned for 2026 and 2027. Through cooperative networks, these robots could soon serve markets across the CIS and regions where decentralized farming prevails.
