Agricultural companies are in a difficult position as the world population continues to grow. They must produce more food to meet the dietary requirements of billions of people while also dealing with significant environmental and economic issues. Governments and consumers are increasingly demanding that fruit and vegetable growers use fewer pesticides, and finding seasonal agricultural workers is growing more difficult each year. In several nations, crippling labor shortages endanger farmers’ livelihoods. Faced with these difficulties, agribusiness is looking to autonomous machines as a feasible substitute for human labor.
Farmers’ interest in cutting-edge technology has generated a market for agricultural robots and drones worth $23.06 billion by 2028. In open fields and greenhouses, robots can already perform a range of tasks. From weeding and harvesting to sampling and spraying, advanced technology help farmers cultivate healthy crops in a financially and environmentally sustainable manner. While we are only at the beginning of this trend, there are already numerous examples of how agricultural robots might affect food production.
A Tertile robot that makes weeding easier than ever
In many homes, there are food and flower gardens. While this activity is fun and offers nutritious food, it is also a constant battle to eliminate weeds that deprive plants of water and nutrients. Weeding can be time-consuming and difficult, which is why Franklin Robotics, a technology company, has come up with a solution. Tertill, a 1.1-kg heavy robot from this American startup, trims itself as it walks about the garden. The four-wheeled device uses sensors to locate its target and a nylon thread on its underside to pull weeds out.
The robot’s solar panel can charge its battery when it is exposed to direct sunlight. The device can also be charged using a USB cord. To keep Tertill from fleeing and allowing it to patrol in a set area, the robot’s owners must enclose their garden with at least a five-centimeter-high wall. Although the machine is weather-resistant, rocks, mud, and uneven terrain might slow it down. Franklin Robotics has also developed a smartphone app that allows clients to monitor the robot’s activities as well as the weather in the garden.
Smart core to check soil samples
Crop production in large open fields faces unique challenges. Farmers must study soil samples to determine the number of nutrients required in certain field areas. Using the proper amount of nutrients can increase yields, cut costs, and minimize surface and groundwater pollution. Using too many or too few chemicals, on the other hand, may have a negative impact on agricultural productivity. Farmers often collect soil samples by hand, which is a time-consuming and error-prone procedure despite the necessity of the process.
Troy Fiechter and Drew Schumacher, both Purdue University graduates, have developed a superior soil analysis method. The duo developed SmartCore, an autonomous robot that navigates fields and collects samples from specific locations. Obstacle detection algorithms and GPS lead the equipment to take samples from the same region each year, allowing farmers to track the changes in their soil. After the sample is taken, SmartCore transports it to the edge of the field for shipment to a lab.
Swarm robots to plant seeds
The robots use satellite navigation to transmit their exact location, which helps operators optimize planting operations. Controlling and optimizing the machines is the responsibility of the OptiVisor algorithm. Fendt’s field robotic system is energy efficient due to its low weight and low-maintenance engine. The grid, farmers’ biogas facilities, wind energy, or fuel cells can all be used to charge the battery. As one of the pioneers in the development of farming tractors in the early twentieth century, Fendt believes that its latest technology solutions may help agriculture take the next big step forward.
The robots send their exact location via satellite navigation, which aids operators in optimizing planting operations. The OptiVisor algorithm is in charge of controlling and optimizing the machines. Because of its low weight and low-maintenance engine, Fendt’s field robotic system is energy efficient. The battery can be charged using the grid, farmers’ biogas facilities, wind energy, or fuel cells. Fendt believes that its latest technology solutions can assist agriculture to take the next significant stride ahead, as one of the pioneers in the creation of farming tractors in the early twentieth century.
Mamut robots to spot plant diseases
Experiments are also being conducted by Cambridge Consultants, a subsidiary of the French engineering firm Altran. The high-tech company is working on Mamut, an AI-powered autonomous robot that uses a stereo camera, an AI system, lidar, and a compass to map and navigate a natural area. Inspection sensors and six 360-degree cameras, one of which is a multispectral imaging camera, are included in the device. Mamut wanders around farm fields, gathering visual data and creating maps to aid farmers in spotting diseases, estimating crop yields, and selecting the best harvesting time. Unlike drones, the robot goes beneath the plants to get more detailed information.
Cambridge Consultants is still training the AI to monitor crops, which is a difficult task. The robot travels around 24 kilometers in eight hours, during which time the developers evaluate functions including collision avoidance, route planning, and route following. Although high-value crop growers expressed the most interest, the company thinks that the Robotics-as-a-Service commercial model will allow the product to reach a larger market. Farmers would only pay for a one-time service, and the technology supplier would own the robot. This allows consumers to adjust their robot usage based on their current needs and cost constraints.
Naio technologies robots
Naio Technologies has a number of robots that can not only operate as the ideal farm laborer, but also conserve and protect the environment.
The robots are capable of weeding, hoeing, and harvesting assistance. “We aim to provide access to the latest technologies to all partners in the agriculture industry, to help grow healthier, more abundant, and ecologically friendly crops,” the team says.
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