Fieldwork Robotics Ltd develops soft, adaptive and modular robots for agriculture, and has demonstrated first commercial picking of raspberries with a robotic system. This project is focused on increasing the performance and robustness of Fieldwork Robotics' raspberry harvesting robot, aiming to accelerate its go to market strategy. This will be done in collaboration with Performance Projects Ltd, a leader in robust mobile platforms for agricultural robots, and the large UK berry grower Hall Hunter Partnership. The goal is to enable the first operational robotic harvesting services for UK raspberries, securing this important sector while reducing losses and wastage.
ROBO-Sprayer is an ambitious program to develop the world's first self-propelled robotic crop sprayer with integrated electric drivetrain. It will place SME Househams, a leading UK manufacturer, in the vanguard of global precision sprayer technology and agricultural robotics.
The project recognises urgent farmer pull for new generation of sprayers that reduce total pesticide inputs by increasing application precision. This reflects news regulations that restrict pesticide use (Environment Act, EU Farm to Fork) and the withdrawal of multiple synthetic chemicals for the market.
To meet this challenge, the ROBO-Sprayer project will design and demonstrate critical elements of a next generation robotic sprayer, including;
1.A new chassis with market leading single wheel traction and slippage control delivered with instant torque available from integrated electric hub drives (replacing hydrostatics). The prototype hub drives (4x8KW each 3000Nm) to be tested were developed by partner OxDrive (PPL spin out) in a prior IUK project. Published academic studies suggest this system has the potential to deliver unrivalled ground speed control across agricultural terrains, essential for precision spray application.
2.Engineering designs of a commercial machine that integrates green on green AI nozzle control (camera targeting of both crop and weeds), a novel electric boom stabiliser with electric drives, vehicle and robotics (AI) controls, data processing, tanks, and pumps.
3.Options for the power system, including considerations for a full battery or hybrid electric implementation.
This project de-risks Househam's subsequent investment to build the full commercial machine. The project will be delivered by a consortium led by Househam, which also includes OxDrive, an engineering and motor design company in Silverstone, and the University of Lincoln (Engineering and LIAT). The demonstration platform and chassis will be co-created and tested with W Stubbs, leading arable farmers in Lincolnshire.
Farmer gains from the project are significant. Recent review suggests that pesticides reduce losses to fruit, vegetable, and cereal production by 78%, 54% and 32%, respectively. Lost production due to crop waste has negative impacts on GHG emissions, UK farm output and imported food. To meet new regulatory requirements without jeopardizing farmer incomes from crop losses, next generation sprayers including ROBO-Sprayer will need to intelligent and exploit all potential advances in electric drives and controls. Prior independent studies on analogous systems suggest the full machine can reduce pesticide use and input by between 23 to 89%, a considerable proportion of arable farm input costs (pesticides are typically \>£200/ha).