New-tech robotics business Naio is operating under a court-appointed administrator.

Naio Technologies was one of the earliest manufacturers of specialist autonomous work vehicles and has so far been one of the most successful at bringing its products to market.

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The firm produced three machines in quick succession, each aimed at different market segments – vineyards, small-scale vegetable and salad production, and larger-scale row cropping – primarily for mechanical weeding and seeding with a view to reducing labour.

The larger Orio tool carrier arrived later, joining the tiny Oz, Jo mini tracked “tractor”, and the Ted vineyard straddler, all featuring electric propulsion and autonomous driving and tool operation.

Some 400 examples of the different machines have been deployed worldwide.

The financial difficulties at Naio follow the collapse last year of UK robotics firm Small Robot Company after it failed to raise sufficient funding.

In contrast, Agro Intelligence, the Danish business behind the Robotti twin diesel-engined robotic tool carrier, has secured funding of an undisclosed amount to support further growth.

It comes from an existing investor, Nordic Alpha Partners, and a future-focused investment fund owned by a German family with interests in regenerative agriculture.

The firm is gearing up to supply Kubota, which has a licensing agreement to distribute the Robotti within Europe.