OREAD

OREAD is the world’s first commercial multi-robot weeding platform developed specifically for unstructured tea plantations in low-mountain and hilly terrain. Multiple units can enter existing plantations without reconstruction, travel autonomously across steep slopes and narrow rows, and extend their tools beneath tea bushes. It brings continuous robotic operation to work that previously relied entirely on people.

Hilly tea plantations have steep terrain, limited access, and fragmented plots. Conventional robotic mowers cannot navigate them reliably, while large agricultural machines have no room to operate. Workers must carry cutting equipment onto slippery slopes and remain bent over between dense rows. As the workforce ages and younger workers leave, this frequent and physically demanding task is increasingly difficult to sustain. Delayed weeding deprives tea plants of water and nutrients; reliance on herbicides puts additional pressure on workers, soil, and tea quality.

OREAD combines a high-mobility wheel-track chassis with a telescopic arm. The chassis maintains stability across slopes, narrow paths, and uneven ground. The arm reaches beyond the vehicle into blind spots under and between tea bushes, increasing coverage during each pass. Standardized batteries and tool modules can be replaced on-site, reducing charging, maintenance, and downtime.

Managers use the control terminal to define work zones, assign tasks, and review progress. The cloud system plans routes and allocates robots according to plot size, terrain, and equipment status, while reporting exceptions in real time. One operator can supervise multiple robots without following them into the plantation. Fleets can be expanded as operating areas grow, giving tea producers, cooperatives, and service providers a practical path to automation.

OREAD reduces prolonged bending, hillside walking, and repetitive work in hot conditions. Mechanical weeding also lowers chemical use and supports a healthier growing environment. Its protective canopy draws from the form of traditional tea-picking hats, while tea green and dark gray finishes help the machine sit naturally within the landscape.