DairyRobot R9500 vs Astronaut A5 Next
Two robotic barn machines, one verified table. Every figure below is sourced and dated; vendor claims are labelled and kept apart from independent results.
GEA's box-style voluntary milking robot — In-Liner Everything performs stimulation, teat cleaning, forestripping, milking and post-dipping in a single attachment, in the most compact box footprint (5.3 m²) on the market. Scales from single box to multi-box and robotic rotary; sold and serviced in Switzerland via GEA Solution Centers.
Best for: Dairy herds wanting robotic milking from one of the big-three suppliers (Lely/DeLaval/GEA) with a compact box that saves up to 40% space in multi-box layouts.Robotic milking system — cows milk on their own schedule around the clock; the A5 Next (June 2025) adds a new OS with over-the-air updates, laser+camera teat detection and an automatic milk filter.
Best for: Dairy herds of 50–120 cows seeking to cut milking labour and lift yield per cow.| DairyRobot R9500 Verified 2026-07-16 | Astronaut A5 Next Verified 2026-07-16 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Task | Robotic barn | Robotic barn |
| Autonomy | Fully autonomous | Fully autonomous |
| Country of origin | Germany | Netherlands |
| Availability | Available now | Available now |
| EU market | CE-marked | CE-marked |
| Lead time | Not disclosed | ~20 wk |
| Last verified | 2026-07-16 | 2026-07-16 |
| Specifications | ||
| Power source | Mains electric · 1.1 kW vacuum + 2.2 kW compressed air connected loads | Mains electric · vacuum + compressed air |
| Required tractor power | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Dimensions | 5.3 m² box footprint — most compact milking robot box on the market | Single box ~3.5 × 2.5 m footprint |
| Weight | Fixed installation | Fixed installation |
| Min farm size | ~60 cows / box for economic utilisation | 50 cows / unit |
| Productivity | Up to 4 boxes per Supply Unit; single box, multi-box or rotary configurations | ~60 cows per robot |
| Max speed | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Sensors | 3D Time-of-Flight camera for teat attachment · in-line milk monitoring | Laser + camera teat detection · milk MDi sensors · cow ID |
| Price & model | ||
| Price (EUR) | Not disclosed | €165,000 per unit, installed (indicative) |
| Native price | Not disclosed | €165,000 |
| Business model | Buy · finance via GEA dealer / Solution Center network | Buy · finance; national livestock-modernisation grants |
| Ongoing cost | Service contract; liners, filters, cleaning consumables | €4,500/yr service; consumables + energy |
| Key outcome | ||
| Best verified result | Energy consumption -19% · vendor | Milking labour −73% · vendor |
| EU context | ||
| CE marking | CE marked | CE marked |
| Machinery Regulation | Compliant — Regulation (EU) 2023/1230; Swiss market access via CH–EU Mutual Recognition Agreement (CH follows EU machinery rules) | Compliant — Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 |
| CAP subsidy | Eligible under rural-development livestock schemes; CH — cantonal structural-improvement credits may apply | Eligible under rural-development livestock schemes |
"—" means the manufacturer has not disclosed the figure; we never estimate silently. Model either machine's payback with your own numbers on its ROI calculator page.