Astronaut Max vs Discovery Collector
Two robotic barn machines, one verified table. Every figure below is sourced and dated; vendor claims are labelled and kept apart from independent results.
Centralised milking architecture for large herds (announced August 2025) — up to 18 Astronaut robots share one control room for vacuum, cleaning, cooling and long-distance milk transport.
Best for: Dairy farms of 500–1,100 cows wanting robot milking without one full utility set per box.Lely's free-navigating manure robot for solid and semi-closed barn floors — instead of scraping manure ahead of itself it vacuums the slurry into an onboard tank, spraying water at the front for better intake and at the back to leave grip on the floor. Dumping, wireless charging and water refilling happen at one central station; the C2 generation handles barns of up to roughly 120 cows and routes are managed from a mobile app.
Best for: Dairy barns with solid or semi-closed floors (including cross alleys and sorting-gate passages) that want manure removed rather than pushed — cleaner floors and hooves without floor channels or cables.| Astronaut Max Verified 2026-07-16 | Discovery Collector Verified 2026-07-17 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Task | Robotic barn | Robotic barn |
| Autonomy | Fully autonomous | Fully autonomous |
| Country of origin | Netherlands | Netherlands |
| Availability | Pilot / limited | Available now |
| EU market | CE-marked | CE-marked |
| Lead time | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Last verified | 2026-07-16 | 2026-07-17 |
| Specifications | ||
| Power source | Mains electric · centralised vacuum, cleaning and cooling units | Battery, wireless charging pad at the central station |
| Required tractor power | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Dimensions | Central control room + in-barn robot boxes (layout-specific) | Compact low-profile unit sized to pass cross alleys and gate passages (exact dimensions not disclosed on product page) |
| Weight | Fixed installation | Not disclosed |
| Min farm size | 500 cows | Sized per barn; C2 cleans barns up to ~120 cows |
| Productivity | Up to 18 connected Astronaut robots · 500–1,100 cows | Continuous route-based cleaning; ~60% driving / 40% charging duty cycle (C2) |
| Max speed | Not applicable | Not disclosed |
| Sensors | Astronaut robot sensor suite · centralised system monitoring | Built-in sensors for autonomous route navigation — no cables, wires or gutters required |
| Price & model | ||
| Price (EUR) | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Native price | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Business model | Phased commercial rollout from 2026; validation farms since 2023–2024 | Buy via the Lely Center dealer network |
| Ongoing cost | Service contract via Lely Center; consumables centralised | Electricity and water; wear parts; Lely Center service contract |
| Key outcome | ||
| Best verified result | — No verified outcome | Manure removal method Vacuum collection into onboard tank — manure removed, not displaced · vendor |
| EU context | ||
| CE marking | CE marking expected at commercial rollout; system in validation | CE marked |
| Machinery Regulation | To conform with Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 at market placement | Compliant — Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 (NL manufacturer); Swiss market access via CH–EU Mutual Recognition Agreement |
| CAP subsidy | Livestock-modernisation schemes typically apply; confirm per member state at rollout | Eligible under rural-development livestock schemes; CH — cantonal structural-improvement credits may apply |
"—" 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.