There are still a few Lely employees active which were in the development team of the first Astronaut of around 1990. One of them is Karel van den Berg and another one is Nico. Nico is now far over 70 and more than 55 years employed!

gilbert09 , I wasn't there at that time but I can imagen the agricultural sector was shocked. A robot milking cows, that could not be possible. But it is and its doing well! Today it is 'just' one of the options. I did my practicum at Lely in the early '20, during the time of the Astronaut A2, and I was really impressed about the technique and I'm still am today. I find it amazing how the robot is capable to find the teats and connect the cups. 

Please also look at this article, its in dutch, but maybe with an translate tool you can read it. Its about Alexander van der Lely en Karel van den Berg. https://www.melkveebedrijf.nl/teeltwerkzaamheden/mechanisatie/nederlandse-ingenieurs-alexander-van-der-lely-en-karel-van-den-berg-genomineerd-voor-european-inventor-award-2019/

to be exactly: Nico is 80 and still rocking every week!

that is amazing.