Meraque Group has introduced the nation’s first Autonomous Ground Vehicle (AGV) designed for complex agricultural environments, named Robotic Agro in Complex Environment (RACE).
As an autonomous AGV, RACE is designed to navigate the intricate and challenging terrain of agricultural environments. It boasts a suite of impressive features that promise to redefine precision and efficiency in the industry.
Its features include artificial intelligence (AI) powered mobility control, long-range (LoRa) real-time data transmission, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) navigation, an expansive 500-litre smart liquid tank, 12-metre maximum spray width and a robust 30° terrain-climbing capability. Meraque has secured patents for the incorporation of real-time kinematic (RTK) LoRA technology, swarm technology and smart spraying within the RACE system.
The robotic equipment is to decrease dependence on foreign labour and enhance fertilizer spraying consistency in various crop and plantation fields, moving beyond just oil palm plantations. With a high-power computing module in the brain and AI, RACE is able to navigate its way autonomously between plants, and analyse surroundings for decision-making and routing, while setting boundaries using high-precision location points.
RACE also comes equipped with 360° vertical and horizontal directional spray functions, autonomous driving capabilities, a 700-kilogram maximum load capacity, advanced obstacle avoidance detection systems, and an electronic parking system.
Meraque currently commands Malaysia’s largest market share for drone spraying services and harbours bold ambitions. By 2025, the company aspires to be among the top 10 largest agricultural technology (AgTech) robotic automation companies globally. Meraque envisions a transformative role for itself within the agriculture industry, driven by digitalisation and innovation. The launch of RACE represents a significant milestone in this journey.
In line with this vision, the country has identified the Agriculture industry as one of its high-impact sectors. Notably, the Malaysian robotics market is poised for substantial growth, with a projected Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 17.50% expected to drive it to USD 273.61 million by 2027.
