Top 5 Robotic Applications in Agricultural Industry
Robotics and automation are transforming the agricultural industry. A report predicts that the market for agricultural robots and drones will reach $35 billion in the next three years. There are genuine issues in modern agriculture. Traditional farming methods struggle to meet market demands for efficiencies. Farmers in developed countries are facing a labor shortage. Using robotics and advanced sensing, automated farming attempts to solve all problems.
Agriculture is not an exception to how technology has transformed many industries. Agriculture is evolving as a high-tech job with the help of technology, with many robots and drones involved. Engineers are striving to create robotic models that stand out and assist farmers in their various applications.
The development of robotic applications in the agriculture industry is quite rapid, and with fantastic results, it is quickly becoming one of the most significant revolutions in agriculture.
1. Crop Seeding
Many food plants begin their lives as seeds in the ground. Traditionally, seeds are dispersed using a tractor-mounted "broadcast spreader." This scatters many seeds throughout the field while the tractor drives steadily. Robotics and geo-mapping are combined in autonomous precision seeding. A map is created that depicts the soil properties at each point in the field. The tractor, equipped with a robotic seeding attachment, places the seeds at precise depths and locations.
2. Fertilizing and irrigation
Irrigating and fertilizing crops has traditionally been an inefficient use of water. Robot-Assisted Precision Irrigation saves water by focusing on specific plants. Ground robots navigate autonomously between crop rows, pouring water directly at the base of each plant.
Robots also have an advantage in that they can enter areas that other machines cannot.
3. Crop Weeding and Spraying
Spraying pesticides and weed killers onto fields is not only wasteful, but also has a negative impact on the environment. Robots are a far more efficient method.
The concept of micro-spraying has the potential to reduce the amount of herbicide used in crop production. Using computer vision technology, micro-spraying robots locate weeds and spray a precise pesticide drop upon them.
4. Autonomous Tractors
Because tractors are typically driven by humans, the robots are designed to adapt to the speed at which the human is driving. However, fully autonomous tractors are gaining popularity. There is also a growing trend toward autonomous follow-the-leader tractors, in which tractors autonomously follow human-driven combine harvesters to collect grain.
5. Picking and Harvesting
Harvesting crops like corn, barley, and wheat is simple. It is possible to do so with a combine harvester, which, like a tractor, can be automated. Other crops, such as soft fruits, are more difficult to harvest because they require manual dexterity. The "Clever Robots for Crops" project is working on several harvesting applications, including apple harvesting, grape picking, and sweet pepper picking.
With the involvement of central authorities, robotics in agriculture and farming, particularly dairy farming, is likely to reach new heights in the coming years.
Also Read: Top Agritech Trends- Agriculture Industry in 2022
