At Agritechnica, which took place on 9-15 November, Kubota unveiled the latest evolution of KFast, a fully autonomous sprayer developed to transform specialty crop farming.
Designed for orchards and plantations, KFast combines precision spraying, intelligent navigation and sustainable operation to meet the evolving needs of modern agriculture.
Across Europe, specialty crop growers face increasing pressure from labour shortages, rising costs and stricter environmental regulations. Spraying remains one of the most time-consuming tractor operations, demanding precision, safety and efficiency.
Producers of citrus, olives, nuts and other high-value crops require solutions that reduce dependency on manual labour, minimise chemical use and ensure consistent treatment across large and often fragmented plots.
Powered by a V3800-TIE5 diesel engine and equipped with four-wheel drive and steering, KFast navigates orchards and plantations with ease. Its AGC Navigation System, combining RTK GPS and LiDAR technology, ensures accurate path following even on slopes of up to 10 degrees.
The machine’s airblast sprayer includes a 2,000-litre tank, 160 litre-per-minute pump and 26 double nozzles, providing high-volume coverage with reduced drift. Integrated H3O technology automatically adjusts dosage using ultrasonic tree detection, reducing pesticide use by up to 25% and drift by 48%.
KFast operates autonomously from start to finish. Field boundaries, inter-row spacing and headlands are defined digitally, after which spraying parameters and treatment conditions are set. The machine then executes the mission independently while recording all data through the Specialty Crops Platform, ensuring complete traceability and compliance with sustainability standards.
Safety has been central to KFast’s design. LiDAR sensors detect obstacles and guide the vehicle along alternate paths when needed, while bumper systems trigger immediate stops on contact. Safencing technology confines operation within pre-defined boundaries, and remote monitoring allows operators to supervise multiple units from a central control hub. Together, these systems create a comprehensive safety framework that protects both operators and crops.
According to Kubota, KFast improves labour efficiency, ensures uniform coverage, reduces chemical input and drift, and offers full digital traceability of all treatments. The OEM says the system operates effectively across varied terrain and plot layouts, making it particularly well-suited for large orchards and plantations exceeding 100 hectares in countries such as Spain, France, Italy and Portugal.
Following successful field tests in Spain and Portugal between July and December 2025, Kubota plans a limited commercial launch in mid-2026, with full European availability scheduled for early 2027.
Image: Kubota
