In the world of agriculture, not all enterprises are large arable cropland affairs upon which tractors do their work traversing strip by strip under the hot sun. Many farms raise far more intensive crops on a much smaller scale, and across varying terrain. When it comes to automation these farms offer their own special challenges, but with the benefit of a smaller machine reducing some of the engineering tasks. There’s an entry in this year’s Hackaday prize which typifies this, [KP]’s Agrofelis robot is a small four-wheeled carrier platform designed to deliver autonomous help on smaller farms. It’s shown servicing a vineyard with probably one of the most bad-ass pictures you could think of as a pesticide duster on its implement platform makes it look for all the world like a futuristic weapon.
A sturdy tubular frame houses the battery bank and brains, while motive power is provided by four bicycle derived motorized wheels with disk brakes. Interestingly this machine steers mechanically rather than the skid-steering found in so many such platforms. On top is a two degrees of freedom rotating mount which serves as the implement system — akin to a 3-point linkage on a tractor. This is the basis of the bad-ass pesticide duster turret mentioned above. Running it all is a Nvidia Jetson Nano, with input from a range of sensors including global positioning and LIDAR.
The attention to detail in this agricultural robot is clearly very high, and we could see machines like it becoming indispensable in the coming decades. Many tasks on a small farm are time-consuming and involve carrying or wheeling a small machine around performing the same task over and over. Something like this could take that load off the farmer. We’ve been there, and sure would appreciate something to do the job.
While we’re on the subject of farm robots, this one’s not the only Prize entry this year.
While I’m not the biggest of pesticides, it does have a certain homestead defense, sentry turret, appeal. Coupled with any of the paintball sentry projects out there and you’d have a decent roving pest deterrent.
On the other hand a blue laser or simple weed puller tool might be more practical for agricultural purposes.
Have faith in yourself. One day you’ll be the biggest pesticide the world has ever known.
Gah, I meant “biggest fan of”. I really need to stop commenting on posts with my phone. Or at least not while in a moving vehicle.
Not to worry, I feel like we understood what you meant to write.
Or find a forum with advanced technology like edit and delete functions.
You go too far sir!
A friend manages a 4000 acre mac nut farm here in Hawaii where labor is in very short supply. They buy 60s and 70s era farm vehicles and equipment because they can afford to maintain them. Another owns a 5000 acre coffee farm and hosts universities from all of the world to try out ideas. But, despite his degree in mechanical engineering and passion for advanced robotics, the newest machine on his place is a 20 year old electrostatic sprayer. Cool vs practical.
Well, a lot of newer farm equipment is equipped with DRM, and computers that spy on production and repairs.
I’m sure this DRM stuff could be retro-fitted on older equipment if you wanted to.
N-Channel NexFETTM Power MOSFETs
I agree these bad ass dusters with their ornamental shielding where used everywhere in china for desinfecting streets during covid
Uh.. i agree they look bad ass, these were used etcetc (edit button pls!)