Remote assistance and over-the-air software updates are among the benefits of Lely’s new operating software built into the Astronaut A5 Next robotic milking setups.

Apart from improving serviceability, the new design is said to future-proof the A5 Next, making it easier to upgrade as refinements and new monitoring or control features are developed.

See also: Advice on buying second-hand robotic milkers

In addition, Lely now offers the Hub, a digital interface designed to protect farm data as it is transferred between the farm and Lely Horizon, Lely’s data management system.

Teat scanning

There is also a new teat detection system designed to enhance the existing three-layer laser scanning approach with a camera feed.

This is said to result in a further improvement in accuracy, speed and decisiveness when positioning the electrically operated arm that carries the cleaning roller brushes and the individual teat cups.

As with the previous design, the arm attaches the pivoting teat cups individually, starting with the slowest quarter, and prevents any element of the milking system touching the ground.

An automatic milk filter is another new feature; it automates the last manual and repetitive routine in the milking process, so operators no longer have to change filter socks, and it also provides insights into flush performance.

In addition, producers can opt for a lower-spec Astronaut A5 installation that simply uses ear tag rather than a more informative collar for individual cow identification.

The Astronaut A5 Next is already available through Lely Center dealers but Astronaut Max is due in 2026 as a milking system support installation for up to 18 robotic units – for herds of 500 to 1,100 cows, in other words.

Max forms a central control room for all units and supports their peripheral needs, in terms of vacuum, compressed air, cleaning water, udder care and milk transport, and centralises the milking and cleaning processes, as well as storage for cleaning and udder care consumables.