SRone 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 battery-powered manure scraper robot for slatted floors — a flat, quiet 400 kg unit that pushes slurry through the slats with up to 100 kg of pushing force, turns fully within 2 m and slips under gates. The lateral-guidance SRone cleans up to 8,000 m² of slatted floor per day; the programmable SRone+ extends that to 12,000 m² with custom route plans. Runs up to 19.5 h per day on a 4.5 h quick charge.
Best for: Dairy barns with slatted floors — from simple straight walkways (SRone) to larger barns with complex, personalised routes (SRone+) — wanting continuous slat cleaning without floor cables.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.| SRone Verified 2026-07-17 | 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 | 2026-07-17 | 2026-07-16 |
| Specifications | ||
| Power source | High-performance batteries — up to 19.5 h operation/day, 4.5 h quick charge | Mains electric · vacuum + compressed air |
| Required tractor power | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Dimensions | Flat, compact profile — passes under gates; full turn within 2 m | Single box ~3.5 × 2.5 m footprint |
| Weight | 400 kg | Fixed installation |
| Min farm size | Sized per barn; economic from smaller slatted barns upward | 50 cows / unit |
| Productivity | Up to 8,000 m²/day (SRone, lateral guidance); up to 12,000 m²/day (SRone+, programmable routes) | ~60 cows per robot |
| Max speed | Not disclosed | Not applicable |
| Sensors | Lateral guidance (SRone); multifunctional control with programmable route plans (SRone+) | 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 via GEA dealer / Solution Center network | Buy · finance; national livestock-modernisation grants |
| Ongoing cost | Electricity; battery and blade wear parts; dealer service contract | €4,500/yr service; consumables + energy |
| Key outcome | ||
| Best verified result | Slatted-floor cleaning capacity Up to 8,000 m²/day autonomous (SRone); 12,000 m²/day (SRone+) · vendor | Milking labour −73% · vendor |
| EU context | ||
| CE marking | CE marked | CE marked |
| Machinery Regulation | Compliant — Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 (DE manufacturer); Swiss market access via CH–EU Mutual Recognition Agreement | 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.