Saga Robotics has completed its largest operational season to date in the United States and the United Kingdom, marking an expansion of its autonomous Thorvald platform. The company reported increased deployment, higher uptime, and expanded services across key crops, including grapes and strawberries.
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In California, Thorvald robots covered nearly 1,300 acres of vineyards during the 2025 season, while in the UK, they operated across approximately 20% of the tabletop strawberry sector. A total of more than 150 robots achieved 97% uptime, logging over 200,000 autonomous kilometres, three times more than the previous season.
According to Saga Robotics, the UV-C light technology used in Thorvald systems is designed to target fungal pathogens such as powdery mildew through DNA disruption. Founder and US General Manager Professor Pål Johan From said the system's performance is based on precise application. "Too little, and the fungal disease will recover, which could lead to an outbreak. Too much applied incorrectly, and you risk reducing plant performance," he said.
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Following the 2025 season, Saga Robotics confirmed that all current customers plan to continue with the service, with several expanding their operational areas. In California, the company intends to triple vineyard coverage and introduce a new Thorvald model designed for viticulture, featuring enhanced suspension, larger wheels, and automatic tilt compensation for use in uneven terrain.
Saga Robotics is also launching a data collection service to assist vineyard managers with crop estimation and harvest planning. The new system uses onboard cameras and sensors to detect and count grape clusters automatically, providing real-time crop load data.
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A similar data service has already been deployed in UK strawberry production in partnership with Chambers Farm and Bitwise. Each robot reportedly counted more than three million fruits and flowers per night, generating detailed production data. Saga Robotics said it plans to expand this service to a wider area in the 2026 season.
Operational improvements in the UK included the use of autonomous convoys, enhanced object detection, and remote 24/7 monitoring from an operations centre. Growers now have access to live dashboards and technical support throughout the season. The company aims to increase its share of the UK tabletop strawberry sector to 30% next year.
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Chief Executive Officer Sacha de La Noë said the company's strategy remains focused on scaling while maintaining service quality and cost efficiency. According to Saga Robotics, UV-C operations this season eliminated 133 tons of fungicides, avoided 4,450 tons of CO₂ emissions, and reduced chemical exposure for workers by an estimated 85,200 hours.
The company said preparations for the next growing season are already in progress, with plans to continue expanding both robotic and data-driven crop management services in 2026.
© ThorvaldFor more information:
Tale Hagelsteen
Saga Robotics as Thorvald
Tel: +47 938 05615
Email: [email protected]
www.sagarobotics.com
