Astronaut Max vs Juno
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 battery-electric automatic feed pusher — follows pre-installed floor strips with ultrasound distance sensing to push feed to the fence up to 48 times a day, returning to its charging station between runs. Current line is Juno / Juno Flex; the lidar-navigating Juno Max for 800+ cow farms was unveiled September 2024 with commercial launch expected 2027. Swiss sales and service via Lely Center Härkingen.
Best for: Any dairy or beef barn with a feed alley — frequent pushing raises intake day and night for a modest, low-maintenance robot.| Astronaut Max Verified 2026-07-16 | Juno Verified 2026-07-16 | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2026-07-16 |
| Specifications | ||
| Power source | Mains electric · centralised vacuum, cleaning and cooling units | Battery-electric with docking/charging station |
| Required tractor power | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Dimensions | Central control room + in-barn robot boxes (layout-specific) | Compact round pusher with rotating skirt |
| Weight | Fixed installation | Not disclosed |
| Min farm size | 500 cows | Any herd with a feed alley |
| Productivity | Up to 18 connected Astronaut robots · 500–1,100 cows | Flexible schedule, up to 48 pushing runs per day |
| Max speed | Not applicable | Not disclosed |
| Sensors | Astronaut robot sensor suite · centralised system monitoring | Ultrasound distance sensing to the feed fence · route via pre-installed floor strips (Juno Max — lidar, odometry, virtual farm map) |
| 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 regional Lely Center |
| Ongoing cost | Service contract via Lely Center; consumables centralised | Electricity; battery life-cycle; service via Lely Center |
| Key outcome | ||
| Best verified result | — No verified outcome | Dry matter intake +3.5% · 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; 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 |
"—" 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.