Robotic farmers take to the field

Autonomous robotic solutions could help European farmers stay resilient against rising costs, labour shortages and a changing climate.

Food and Natural Resources

You’ve heard of Robocop. But ‘robofarmer’? While the concept may not be blockbuster material, robotic farmers are very real and likely to appear in fields near you. “Farmers are grappling with many challenges, including labour shortages, soaring costs of resources, and the disruptive impacts of climate change,” says Frits van Evert, a researcher at Wageningen University & Research(opens in new window). “Robots are well-positioned to help overcome these obstacles.” With the support of the EU-funded ROBS4CROPS(opens in new window) project, van Evert has helped develop and test a fully autonomous robotic system for weeding and spraying. “Featuring smart implements, autonomous vehicles, and high-level software for planning and scheduling, this innovative system is ready to help farmers reduce labour requirements and costs,” adds van Evert.

Using remote sensing and GNSS positioning to achieve full autonomy

The project used, amongst others, a prototype robot developed by consortium partner(opens in new window) Agreenculture(opens in new window) and prepared it for commercialisation. This work involved enabling full autonomy, which was achieved using knowledge from industrial manufacturing. It also meant finding alternatives to GNSS positioning(opens in new window). “While most autonomous systems depend on GNSS for localisation and navigation, these satellite signals aren’t always readily available in orchards and vineyards,” explains van Evert. To address this positioning gap, the project developed a method that uses a sensing technology called lidar to complement the GNSS signal.

Robotic systems that can self-monitor and autocorrect

The ROBS4CROPS solution is unique in that it can be used alongside existing agricultural machinery, practices and standards. It is also designed to self-monitor the quality of its work. “If the control system detects that the weeding isn’t up to standard, a signal is automatically sent to the robotic vehicle, which makes adjustments in the field – all without the need for direct oversight by the farmer,” adds van Evert. The controller is a high-level software that not only allows the robot to self-adjust but also responds to unforeseen events and obstacles.

Farmers are enthusiastic about putting robotics into their fields

The project used four large-scale pilots(opens in new window) to investigate and resolve technical and socio-economic obstacles to the uptake of its solution. “These pilots served as both experiments and demonstrations of the technologies,” notes van Evert. For example, after testing the solution in the field, a grape farmer in Greece expressed enthusiasm about further incorporating robotics into his farming processes. In Spain, a large cooperative of apple growers is now confident in the autonomous sprayer’s capabilities, while a large agricultural cooperative in France is ready to put robots in the hands of farmers. “Farmers are eager to start using our robots, and the main factor limiting adoption is that the manufacturer simply cannot keep up with demand!” says van Evert.

Reaping the benefits of autonomous robotic systems

While robotics clearly has the potential to make farming more resilient against the challenges of climate change and labour shortages, its uptake requires both technical and socio-economic advancements. The ROBS4CROPS solution successfully addresses both aspects. “Beyond the technology itself, we demonstrated its practicality and cost-effectiveness, ensuring that farming communities across Europe can reap the benefits of putting autonomous robotic systems into their field,” concludes van Evert.