The future of agriculture

 

The future of agriculture

 Adopting more advanced robotics to grow the next generation

In agriculture, robots have become the norm rather than the exception, and the term high-tech farming is no longer an oxymoron. Agricultural robots are now involved in almost every farm, simultaneously helping farmers fill labor shortages and supermarket shelves.

The term "agriculture" usually refers to the image of a man in disgusting clothes plowing a field with a classic tractor and sweating under the scorching sun. However, that image does not quite match the current version of reality. With the help of various mechanical and robotic tools including robots, agriculture today is a high technology, which makes farming sophisticated and convenient using AI-ML (Artificial Intelligence - Machine Learning), Internet of Things devices, etc.

The name of the game is Automation

Automation is a time-tested solution to beat manual labor. Automation in agriculture already exists with machines such as tractors, combines, weeders, and even irrigation equipment. However, this will not be sufficient to meet the increasing demand for labor in the agricultural sector. Therefore, agricultural robots should be designed keeping the following aspects in mind:

The mechanical structure of the robot, its dimensions, and its frame

Agility, Mobility and System Flexibility

Power supply, with powerful and fully tested electronic control unit

Strong connection and remote control system

Minimizing human intervention by maximizing system automation

It is time for the entry of agricultural robots to take society to the world of digital farming. When designing future agricultural robots, architects and designers must consider emerging technologies with the aspects mentioned above, such as:

Internet of Things (IoT): Thousands of devices can be connected to the Internet in a large, technologically advanced company. The IoT ecosystem will allow robots to connect to their ecosystem through different connectors, actuators, and sensors.

Cloud computing and 5G: IoT devices will generate petabytes of data you need to process and transfer at lightning speed to help bots make informed decisions.

Artificial Intelligence - Machine Learning (AI-ML): AI-ML should be used as a guiding principle for agricultural robots as an integral part and foundation of robotics.

The benefits are endless: Where can agricultural robots help?

Agriculture consists of many repetitive and boring tasks that affect farmers. Agricultural robots can automate such tasks with the help of mechanical robotic arms, including special processors, clutches, and influences, allowing farmers to focus on improving overall yield. Here are some examples of how robots can help make farming easier for farmers.

Sowing and sowing seeds: Automatic seed sowing robots are one of the simplest examples of robots in agriculture. This machine can reduce the time and labor required by the farmer to plant the seeds.

Harvesting and sorting: Compared to sowing/cultivation, harvesting is a special activity that includes more moving parts such as manipulators and two-finger handles. The manipulators help control the position and height of the grippers while working. Farming robots can help increase speed and accuracy while reducing waste. Thus, it can improve the yield.

Weed Control: Weeds have always been the most important enemy of farmers because they grow with impunity. The mechanical robot can help remove these weeds and prevent crop damage. The machine uses artificial intelligence to distinguish between weeds and crops. Continuous digitization of crop and field images with Spatio-temporal information helps the target.

Robotic Greenhouses: The future of agricultural robots in building automated greenhouses. This way, the robot will not have to go to the farm. On the other hand, it is different because the farms are indoor. The world's first independent farm is located in San Carlos, California.

Drones for planting seeds: Drones have various advantages. They can reach areas that people cannot reach. Planting seeds and aerial drones are some of the best uses of robotics in agriculture. Aerial images help growers get a panoramic view of the fields, making it easier to monitor plant health.

 Cloud seeding robots: Crop failures due to drought may be a thing of the past, thanks to farming robots that can perform cloud seeding activities. This process involves spraying the clouds with silver iodide, which produces ice crystals to facilitate rapid sedimentation.

20 robots revolutionizing the agricultural landscape

Here are 20 models of popular agricultural robots that perform different tasks related to farming.

1. Turtle

The turtle, a four-wheeled robot, independently removes weeds with a nylon thread underneath. It is suitable for home gardens and small farms. It has a solar panel and weighs only 1.1 kg.

2. Octinion

Robin's model robot from Octonion discovers ripe strawberries without cutting and ripping them. Weigh and store safely.

3. Smartcore

SmartCore helps to intelligently collect soil samples for analysis. To accurately analyze the evolution of the field, he ensures that they are collected from the same point each season.4. Fendt

Fendt's robots work in swarms across the field to sow seeds. It uses satellite navigation to get the job done.

5. Dino

Naino Technologies' subsidiary Dino operates independently using GPS guidance systems for large field weeds. It can work on a predetermined schedule such as weeding every week.

6. Agris

The SwagBot robot from Agerris will operate based on AI software control and can eliminate weeds, monitor grain, and even monitor livestock and necks.

7. Mammut

Mamut uses advanced technology in her work, such as an artificial intelligence system, a compass, and six 360-degree cameras. He wanders the field and takes pictures, which helps to identify diseased crops.

8. Farms

The farm is a versatile robot used to kill weeds and adapt to different environments. It works with a process controlled by artificial intelligence and a deep learning algorithm.

9. Econobox

Ecorobotics is a scanning and spraying robot that uses a camera system and AI controls to precisely target its enemies. It sprays 20 times less pesticide than the traditional spray method.

10. Thorvald

Thorvald is seen as a versatile robot that performs many tasks and replaces a large amount of human labor. It navigates the field without damaging the tree and can even carry loads.

11. spur

Energid is a harvesting robot that helps in picking most citrus fruits. It can pick up the fruit in 2-3 seconds and the total cost is cheaper than human labor.

12. Agrobot Electronic Series

The E series is another harvesting robot with an artificial intelligence system and 24 automatic weapons. Not only can it pick strawberries, but it can also accurately identify ripe strawberries.

13. Blue River

The LettuceBot2 robot from Blue River helps farmers reduce lettuce fields. Attached to a tractor to do its job.

14. Agriculture

Agribotix from AgEagle Aerial Systems is an unmanned robot that helps monitor crops and even measures their health. It takes aerial photos, records video, and also has an infrared sensor system.

15. Vision Robots

The Robot Vision Robotics set can automatically prune plants, especially lettuce and vineyards. It is advanced with its AI-powered mechanism.

16. RoBoPlant

It helps to sow seeds using the semi-automatic and fully automatic RoBoPlant mode. Finds the best planting patterns and is suitable for greenhouse management.

17. Exact Right

PrecisionHawk is a versatile drone robot that can assist farmers with many complex jobs. It uses multispectral, hyperspectral, and LiDAR technologies for performance.

18. CROO. HARVEST

Harvest CROO is a harvesting robot with advanced leaf picking, strawberry picking, and packing parts. He can distinguish between ripe and unripe fruits.

19. Lots of robots

Abundant is an advanced apple crop robotic brand. It can detect ripening and rupture and then save. It works based on a vacuum control mechanism and uses advanced algorithms.

20. Nexus Robotics

The award-winning R2Weed2 robot from Nexus intelligently distinguishes between weeds and crops and removes weeds efficiently. It monitors the environment as well as analyzes the soil.

What are some of the main advantages of agricultural robots?

In addition to making it easier for farmers to work, here are some of the ways robots can benefit farming:

Work Variations - Agricultural robots can perform a variety of repetitive tasks such as weeding, seeding, fertilizing, and spraying. The use of multiple sensors and artificial intelligence helps to perform non-linear tasks faster and more efficiently.

Bring Automation - Robots can function as an automated system for self-control and as an active fertilizer or liquid mist using advanced navigation algorithms and machine vision. Autonomous tractors will become more and more popular with the help of machine vision systems, Internet of Things connectivity, and technological advancements in LiDar.

Less Mistake - Compared to humans, robots can be programmed to make fewer mistakes. In addition, robots can eliminate businesses that could be dangerous to humans.

High Efficiency - Because the robots can detect features using 3D computer vision and GPS, they efficiently tackle geographical barriers such as trees, ponds, and rocks.