Xinjiang deploys 108-arm robot for cotton topping, slashes labor costs

"This robot allows us to achieve full mechanization and intelligence across the entire cotton growth cycle," said Zhou Shuai, general manager of Xinmiao Agricultural Technology, a company based in Shihezi, a major cotton-producing area in northern Xinjiang. Founded by a group of post-90s entrepreneurs, the firm manages approximately 133 hectares of cotton fields.

Zhou said he was impressed by the robot's efficiency, noting that its daily output would require 50 to 60 workers. He added that the topping success rate had exceeded 90 percent.

Before deploying the robot, Zhou's company had already automated irrigation, fertilization, spraying and weeding using domestically developed Beidou satellite positioning and AI technology. All field operations are managed by just five people.

Xinjiang's cotton sector is already among the world's most mechanized, with an overall mechanization rate for cultivation and harvesting surpassing 97 percent.

The cotton-topping robot is just one example of a broader push into agricultural automation across this region. In recent years, companies, universities and research institutes have ramped up innovation and R&D efforts in cotton machinery, focusing on precision, efficiency and intelligence.

Last year, a collaborative effort between Xinjiang University and EAVISION, a robotics tech company based in Xinjiang, led to the successful development of a cotton laser-topping robot.

"Robotic technology is getting more mature," said Pei Xinmin, a researcher at Xinjiang's agricultural and rural mechanization development center.

"It is not just about cotton. It provides a replicable model for smart agriculture in other crops, accelerating the digital transformation of farming across Xinjiang," Pei added.