Engineers at the UK’s Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) have developed an autonomous robot with the aim of creating a more sustainable agricultural sector, while improving crop yield and quality.
The cross-industry project created a payload that attaches to the back of robotic dog Spot, it features an on-board computer and a robotic, 4K camera system that is capable of autonomously controlling and managing the robot’s everyday activities. The MTC team designed payload also included a crop inspecting image processing system that would scan crops and detect any diseases or pests in the process.
This would mean that chemicals would only be applied where and when required, the team said. To accompany this, engineers also developed a unique user interface that would allow Bardsley England to view the data collected from the orchard in real time. The interface would also make the management and handling of the robot fleet simpler and more effective.
Following completion of testing on the payload and on-site with Bardsley England, the MTC has been able to successfully demonstrate the positive impact that complex autonomous mobile robots, AI and vision systems can have on operations in the UK agricultural sector. For Bardsley England, the future of its operations is to grow carbon negative food and the use of robotics will help them to achieve their aim of totally automating their orchards by 2030.
According to MTC, the RoboCrop system has shown that using robots that are able to work autonomously to achieve the round the clock crop management required can be extremely valuable, improving efficiency and allowing highly skilled farmers and engineers to complete value-added tasks that will in turn create a higher quality crop. This more proactive, dataled approach to farming will allow operations like Bardsley England to save costs, increase annual profits and grow healthier products in a more sustainable, environmentally minded manner which will reduce the use of pesticides and herbicides.
Joel Kellam, advanced research engineer, MTC, said: “The culmination of this stage of the Robocrop project is a really proud moment for the MTC by partnering with Bardsley England and BX, we have been able to successfully demonstrate how utilising advanced robotics can create a more sustainable and productive UK agricultural sector.
“Importantly,this inspection payload that has been developed specifically for this project can be easily adapted for other industries and to ensure MTC can continue to positively impact society in everything that we do.”
