The Dutch company’s new EVA Scoutr robot has the ability to detect pests and diseases early, helping to improve crop health and reduce losses for greenhouse vegetable growers
Dutch tech firm Viscon chose this year’s GreenTech exhibition in Amsterdam as the stage to launch its new scouting robot: EVA (Ephemeralised Viscon Agrorobotics) is capable of operating up to 22 hours a day, scanning tomato, cucumber and pepper plants for early signs of pest or disease, regardless of the time of day or year.
Fully mapped to navigate greenhouse layouts without reprogramming, the robot gathers thousands of high-resolution images each day, according to Viscon biosystems engineer Libo Niu. “These are uploaded for analysis, with results delivered on your tablet or PC,” he says. “The system currently detects more than 15 diseases in greenhouse plants and flags early-stage signs well before symptoms are visible to a human.”
While still in trials at a small number of greenhouse sites, EVA is expected to evolve quickly, thanks to the constant training of its algorithms. With a replaceable battery to minimise downtime, it’s also designed for near continuous operation.
“At the heart of EVA lies a powerful software platform that transforms raw data into actionable insights,” the company explains. “EVA continuously collects high-resolution data through onboard sensors, capturing detailed information about plant health, pest presence and exact location. AI-driven algorithms, developed with leading agri-tech partners, analyse this data to detect patterns, anomalies and early signs of threats with unmatched precision.
“Through the intuitive EVA Management Studio, growers access real-time health maps, historical trends and weekly reports with year-over-year comparisons. They can schedule scouting tasks, monitor robot activity and perform diagnostics remotely, enabling data-driven decisions that improve crop health, reduce losses and support sustainable productivity.”
Viscon says that EVA helps reduce chemical inputs by up to 25 per cent, scouting labour by 50 per cent and crop losses by 30 per cent. “By automating repetitive and time-sensitive tasks, EVA enables growers to focus on strategy, quality and sustainability, paving the way for a greener, more resilient food system,” the company states.
Accuracy brings savings
Viscon’s Polyweighr is a fully operational line built for efficiency, accuracy and labour reduction in tomato packing. Traditionally, workers cut and weigh tomatoes manually, often making multiple attempts to hit the correct portion weight. The Polyweighr line changes that. Tomatoes are cut — for now still by hand, but ultimately by a robot — and placed into trays, which are conveyed into a dynamic weighing station. Here, the system automatically calculates the best combination of weights from multiple trays to match the target weight, far outpacing human efforts.
“The advantage is twofold,” explains Viscon’s Michal Zavadil. “You’re saving on labour, but also cutting down on costly overweight portions.”
