#robotics in agriculture

[prachicmi2]

Revolutionizing Agriculture: The Rise of Robots and Mechatronics

In recent years, the agricultural industry has witnessed a significant transformation, with the introduction of advanced technologies such as robots and mechatronics. These innovations are reshaping the way farmers cultivate crops, manage livestock, and optimize their operations. As the world population continues to grow and the demand for food increases, the adoption of agricultural robots and mechatronics has become crucial in ensuring sustainable and efficient food production. Precision agriculture is a farming management approach that utilizes technology to optimize crop yields and minimize resource consumption. Agricultural Robots And Mechatronics play a vital role in this process by enabling farmers to collect precise data about their crops and perform tasks with unparalleled accuracy. These robots are equipped with sensors, cameras, and GPS systems that allow them to navigate fields autonomously, gather information about soil conditions, and monitor crop health. Get more insights on, Agricultural Robots and Mechatronics

[nuadox]

Buzzing insights: Tracking bees with robotic flowers and hive sensors

- By Anthony King , Horizon -

Think of wildlife tracking and what probably comes to mind are documentaries following the majestic movements of elephants through the savannah, the graceful migrations of sea turtles in the deep blue and the prowling of big cats in dense jungles.

Yet, in the grand tapestry of nature, one creature that’s vital to the ecosystem but less in the spotlight can be found gently toiling away: the humble bee. Researchers are keeping a watchful eye on these buzzing wonders in a unique effort to understand their behaviour and ensure their survival.

Big buzz 

Bees pollinate 80% of all flowering plants, including more than 130 types of fruits and vegetables. Unsung heroes of the natural world, bees and other pollinators are responsible for up to €‎550 billion a year in global food production. 

‘We need to understand better how bees move and pollinate plants,’ said Dr Mathieu Lihoreau, a behavioural ecologist at the University of Toulouse. 

Cut to a farm outside Toulouse, the southern French city better known as the location of bigger winged objects: Airbus planes. 

But this is no ordinary farm. It’s an experimental site with, for example, no real flowers. Bumblebees and honeybees will be released into the fields – spread over 25 hectares – and tracked while flying to robotic flowers to taste a sugary reward. 

The experiment is part of a research project that received EU funding to improve understanding of how bees forage and interact. Lihoreau leads the project, which is called BEE-MOVE and runs for five years until the end of September 2026. 

He will trace dozens of bees simultaneously with a radar as they navigate around hundreds of robo-flowers set out in the fields. Knowing why bees buzz off in a certain direction can help improve crop pollination, conserve wild bee populations and save some rare plant species. 

Captivating creatures

While Lihoreau has always been fascinated by animal behaviour, as a student he pictured himself observing whales in the Pacific Ocean or primates in African jungles. But then as a young scientist he became captivated by much smaller creatures after joining a laboratory that studied ants. 

His attention now is on how bees navigate and make decisions as they seek nectar and pollen, orienting themselves using the sun, landscape features and even other bees. Because they collect food for themselves and harvest nectar and pollen for their colony, bees memorise the landscape. 

Research suggests bees can even have emotions and doubts, detect electric fields and count. 

‘I’m fascinated by them,’ Lihoreau said. 

In total, there are around 20 000 bee species and wild bees are critical for a healthy ecosystem. They’re vital assistants in the reproduction of plants by carrying pollen from one flower to another. 

Previously, researchers used large and expensive harmonic radars to track an antenna placed on the back of an individual bee. This allowed scientists to follow the bee as it weaved its way around a meadow, searching for flowers before returning home. 

But following just one bee gives merely a sliver of insight into what’s going on. Honeybees live in hives of thousands of worker bees and bumblebees reside in nests with dozens or hundreds. 

How bees act as a team or make efficient foraging decisions in the company of other pollinators are open questions.

Radar tracking

The BEE-MOVE radar will do its tracking without any of the bees having antennas. It uses the same technology as reversing sensors on cars, sending out energy waves to detect objects by bouncing off them. 

Lihoreau said that, to his knowledge, this is the first time such a radar has been used in ecology.

‘I want to show bees do not move randomly in the environment and to understand the rules that guide their sophisticated foraging,’ he said. 

The radar will track honeybees and bumblebees separately as they fly to the robo-flowers and then together. The planned robotic plants are small metal containers that recognise individual tagged bees as they alight on a platform and allow them in to sup sugar water.

Eventually, Lihoreau wants to investigate the effect on bee behaviour of adding contaminants like pesticides to the sugar water. 

Pesticide threats

Pesticides, including insecticides, used against pests like aphids are often neurotoxins.

‘Bees are in danger because they forage on plants that we treat with pesticides and then they feed on neurotoxins,’ said Lihoreau. 

The European Food Safety Authority said in 2018 that neonicotinoid insecticides pose a threat to wild bees and honeybees. Neonicotinoids are suspected of scrambling the bees’ navigation systems. 

Everything that bees learn when navigating a meadow, garden or cityscape is retained. This may ultimately leave them particularly vulnerable to neurotoxins. 

‘Because they have this tiny brain, probably every neuron is important,’ said Lihoreau. 

In agriculture, healthy bees are crucial for good yields in crops such as strawberries and almonds. 

‘Orchards hire beekeepers to bring in hives, but they need numerous healthy bees,’ said Dr Joao Encarnacao, a sensor expert at Irideon, a technology company in the Spanish city of Barcelona. 

Hive sensors 

If a hive is unhealthy, it can’t pollinate enough flowers and the fruit crop is reduced. But a farmer will become aware of a shortfall in pollinators only when it’s too late.

Encarnacao leads an EU-funded project – iPollinate – positioning sensors on hives to report real-time foraging of honeybees. The tracking technique relies on artificial intelligence and multiple coin-sized sensors placed on the hive. 

The information can be used by an orchard owner to spotlight the healthiest bee colonies or to learn the best locations for hives.

‘You get metrics that show you how productive the beehives are for pollination,’ said Encarnacao. ‘So far, nobody has enough information to know how to optimise things like the placement or the orientation of beehives, yet this might be the difference between having good pollination and bad.’

The project, which is due to end in December 2023 after three years, aims by then to have built a prototype of the sensor system. The plan is for the service to be available to commercial partners of the project in 2024.

The sensors have been tested in onion seeds in France and Israel, in berry fruit in countries including France, Spain and Portugal and in almonds and sunflowers in the US state of California. 

Californian almonds are a key target for iPollinate because about 2.5 million beehives are routinely set out across more than 500 000 hectares of almond groves – a big commercial opportunity for anybody who can improve pollination and, by extension, the harvest. 

Both iPollinate and BEE-MOVE highlight the crucial links between bees and the ecosystem as a whole, reinforcing the need to tackle biodiversity loss driven by human influences including pollution. 

‘Bees are on the frontline of an ecological crisis,’ said Lihoreau of BEE-MOVE. 

Research in this article was funded by the EU via the European Research Council (ERC). The views of the interviewees don’t necessarily reflect those of the European Commission.

This post Buzzing insights: tracking bees with robotic flowers and hive sensors was originally published on Horizon: the EU Research & Innovation magazine | European Commission.

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[opulancetechnologies]

🌟 Exciting News from Opulance Technologies! 🌟

Introducing our latest invention: the Advanced Automated Weather Station. This cutting-edge technology delivers real-time, accurate weather data to help you stay ahead of the elements. Perfect for meteorologists, farmers, and weather enthusiasts alike. Discover the future of weather monitoring with Opulance Technologies! 🌦️🔬 #OpulanceTech #WeatherStation #Innovation #RealTimeData #WeatherMonitoring

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"Eric the Robot is clever. He has amazed hundreds of Kingston people with his antics and his answers to questions and yesterday he revealed to the crowds that thronged the tent the source of his amazing knowledge of current events. Eric told the audiences yesterday that he read The Whig-Standard. The mechanical man is the feature attraction of The Conklin Shows at the Fair Grounds." - from the Kingston Whig-Standard. May 26, 1934. Page 9.

[gayhenrycreel]

a commune can have modern tech

a commune is not necessarily a hippy commune where people make daisy necklaces or some shit. liberals clearly don't understand this subject. my home town is a commune. people trade food and when someone needs help we help them. everyone farms. but that doesn't mean theres no technology. work is hard. farming really hurts sometimes, despite the payoff. it is still a modern society with cars and phones.

with the rise of technology, anarchocommunism becomes more and more plausible. without technology, a commune means working constantly til youve got back pain at the age of 25. but with technology, an anarchocommunist society can work. a big part of anarchocommunism is that work is done voluntarily. no one wants to be a cashier. thats a very easy job to replace with technology. we should not live in a world where robots taking people's jobs is a bad thing. we should live in a world where robots taking up jobs means freedom. obviously, some jobs require people, like conservation and medicine. you'd be surprised how many people are willing to help people by taking up these jobs. i plan to farm so people can have enough food, and im also going to study conservation and ecology.

anarchocommunism does not mean doing away with advanced technology.

what other jobs can you think of? leave it in the tags.

interestingly, robots could actually replace surgeons soon. we could still have medical professionals directing them of course.

[dayasan]

Not to say that Overwatch is a paragon of immersive worldbuilding or anything but I remember someone once criticising the lineup of characters saying that Cassidy stood out as an anachronistic oldtimey cowboy amidst scifi cyborgs and mechas and... that criticism makes no sense because like. Cowboys exist today. They have iPhones.

[santhufs124]

Agriculture Automation and Control Systems Market: A Comprehensive Analysis

The agriculture automation and control systems market Analysis is undergoing rapid transformation as the industry increasingly adopts cutting-edge technologies to boost productivity and meet the demands of a growing global population. This blog offers a detailed analysis of the market, covering its current status, forecast, trends, segmentation, regional performance, key players, and future outlook.

Market Overview and Estimation

As of 2022, the global agriculture automation and control systems market was valued at USD 4.3 billion. It is expected to reach USD 6.69 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.71% over the forecast period (2024–2031). This growth trajectory is primarily attributed to the rising need for efficiency in farming, labor shortages, and increasing awareness about sustainable agricultural practices. Technologies such as IoT (Internet of Things), artificial intelligence, and robotics are being increasingly integrated into agricultural operations to streamline processes, optimize input use, and enhance crop yields.

Latest News and out look

Recent developments in the market reflect the industry's move toward complete digitization and automation:

Internet of Things (IoT): Farmers are adopting IoT-enabled sensors and monitoring systems to track real-time data on soil moisture, nutrient levels, and climate conditions. This not only improves decision-making but also significantly reduces waste.

Autonomous Farm Equipment: Companies are designing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), self-driving tractors, and robotic harvesters to automate labor-intensive processes like planting, spraying, and harvesting.

Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI algorithms are now being used to predict pest infestations, monitor crop health, and manage irrigation, enabling precision agriculture at scale.

Smart Greenhouses and Vertical Farming: With urbanization on the rise, smart greenhouses and controlled environment agriculture are gaining traction, especially in countries facing arable land scarcity.

Startups and Collaborations: Startups focusing on agritech are receiving significant investments. Established companies are collaborating with technology firms to develop innovative, scalable solutions for commercial agriculture.

Sample Link 

Market Segmentation

The agriculture automation and control systems market is segmented by type and application.

By Type, the market encompasses several core technologies:

Yield Monitoring: Utilized primarily for mapping field variability and optimizing crop yields, yield monitoring systems are a critical component of precision farming. These systems help farmers collect and analyze crop data in real-time.

Irrigation Management: Automated irrigation systems manage water usage based on weather forecasts and soil moisture levels. This minimizes water waste and boosts crop health.

Field Mapping: Through GPS and sensor-based technologies, field mapping solutions provide detailed data on field conditions, soil types, and nutrient availability.

Weather Tracking and Forecasting: These systems gather meteorological data to help farmers plan their field activities, such as planting and harvesting.

Crop Scouting and Health Monitoring: UAVs and remote sensors help in monitoring plant health and detecting diseases or pests early, allowing for timely interventions.

Farm Labor and Inventory Management: Automation reduces dependence on manual labor, improves scheduling, and streamlines the supply chain from seed to market.

By Application, the market is divided into:

Commercial Farming: This segment dominates the market, accounting for over 70% of the global share. Large-scale operations adopt comprehensive automation systems for end-to-end efficiency.

Personal or Small-Scale Farming: While adoption is slower, small farms are increasingly integrating affordable, scalable solutions like mobile-based farm management apps and low-cost sensors.

Regional Analysis

United States: The U.S. leads in both adoption and innovation of agricultural automation systems. The market is bolstered by strong infrastructure, investment in agritech R&D, and favorable government initiatives such as subsidies for precision farming tools. U.S. farms widely use GPS-guided tractors, smart irrigation systems, and AI-driven crop monitoring. The country accounts for a significant share of the global market and continues to see steady growth supported by technological integration and sustainability goals.

Japan: Japan is emerging as a technological leader in smart farming, especially due to its aging farmer population and limited agricultural labor. The Japanese smart agriculture market is forecast to grow from 15.87 billion JPY in 2019 to 44.28 billion JPY by 2025, reflecting a robust CAGR of 11.8%. Government support, such as equipment subsidies and regulatory frameworks encouraging innovation, is instrumental in driving this growth. Japan is also seeing the adoption of automated tractors, drone-based monitoring systems, and AI for crop management in both open-field and indoor farming systems.

Key Highlights from the Market

AI and Data Analytics are becoming central to automated farming, enabling predictive maintenance of equipment, yield forecasting, and risk mitigation.

Hydroponics and Controlled Environment Agriculture are gaining popularity, especially in urban areas and countries facing land scarcity.

Collaborations and Technological Integration between agricultural equipment manufacturers and tech firms are creating more integrated, user-friendly systems.

Sustainability Initiatives are encouraging the use of automation to reduce water usage, greenhouse gas emissions, and chemical inputs.

Key Players and Competitive Landscape

Several companies are dominating the agriculture automation space with extensive product portfolios and strategic investments. The five major players with the largest market share include:

John Deere – A pioneer in autonomous tractors and precision agriculture solutions. Their focus on smart machinery places them at the top of the market.

AGCO Corporation – Known for brands like Fendt and Massey Ferguson, AGCO is aggressively expanding its automation capabilities through acquisitions and innovations.

Emerson Electric Co. – Offers a range of automation and control solutions tailored for agricultural use, contributing to more efficient farm operations.

Schneider Electric – Focuses on energy-efficient automation and digital transformation, helping farms optimize resource use.

Bonsai Robotics – A rapidly emerging player developing robotic solutions for harvesting and field operations, addressing labor shortages in agriculture.

These players continue to invest in R&D, expand their global footprint, and form strategic alliances to maintain competitive advantage.

Conclusion

The agriculture automation and control systems market is on an upward trajectory, fueled by a combination of necessity and innovation. As challenges like climate change, food security, and labor shortages intensify, the role of automation in agriculture becomes increasingly vital. Countries like the U.S. and Japan are setting benchmarks through their adoption of smart technologies and supportive policies. With robust growth forecasts and active participation from both tech giants and startups, the future of farming is undeniably digital. Embracing automation not only ensures sustainable food production but also opens new avenues for economic and environmental progress in agriculture.

[shimanshijji]

Samli Drones

🚜🌿 Innovation in Farming: Robots & Drones Farm robots and drones are the way to a smarter, sustainable future in agriculture. With projected market of $6.4B for drones and $15.3B for robots by 2025, these technologies are a game changer for farmers.

[hebasoffar]

Rippa, An Intelligent Farm Robot for the Vegetable Industry

[iwan-fadila]

Yamaha Akuisisi Robotic Plus Kembangkan Teknologi Otomasi Pertanian

motogokil.com – Assalamu’alaikum wa rochmatullohi wa barokatuh, semoga kita semua selamat di perjalanan sampai ke tujuan. Perusahaan Robotics Plus yang berbasis di Selandia Baru, spesialis dalam solusi otomasi pertanian, hari ini mengumumkan telah menandatangani perjanjian untuk diakuisisi oleh Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. untuk membentuk fondasi Yamaha Agriculture, Inc., perusahaan baru yang berfokus…

[brianchapmanportadown]

The Agriculture Future is Digital...

[mkcecollege]

ADVANCED ROBOTICS: THE FUTURE OF ENGINEERING AUTOMATION

Advanced robotics is transforming engineering by automating complex tasks with AI and machine learning. Industries like healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics benefit from intelligent machines that enhance efficiency and precision. Unlike traditional automation, AI-powered robots adapt, learn, and improve over time. At M.Kumarasamy College of Engineering (MKCE), students engage with cutting-edge robotics through hands-on projects. The institution’s labs foster innovation in autonomous systems and adaptive algorithms. Emerging trends like swarm robotics and soft robotics are revolutionizing automation. MKCE integrates interdisciplinary learning, merging robotics with AI and mechanical engineering. Industry partnerships ensure students gain real-world exposure to advanced technologies. The college also emphasizes sustainable robotics solutions for a greener future. As robotics continues to evolve, MKCE remains at the forefront of this transformative field.

To know more : https://mkce.ac.in/blog/advanced-robotics-as-the-next-frontier-in-engineering-automation/