Robotics and Autonomous Machines
Could robotics be even more fascinating? Many readers of this article have likely seen snippets of robots picking fruits, often appearing slow due to the specific nature of harvesting certain species, especially those with soft structures. However, it might be premature to dismiss robotics, which could soon amaze everyone with the rapid pace of its development. Let’s refer to examples of the development of this technology. One of my favorite examples is the advancement of robotics by Boston Dynamics, founded in 1992 by Marc Raibert, a renowned robotics expert, and his colleagues from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Boston Dynamics, initially a spin-off from MIT, focused on motion control algorithms and body dynamics simulations to develop mobile robots capable of navigating difficult terrain. In 2005, Boston Dynamics introduced BigDog, a four-legged robot developed for DARPA, capable of moving across varied terrain. Subsequent developments included other robots like PETMAN, ATLAS, and Spot, varying in mobility, stability, and environmental adaptation. In recent years, artificial intelligence has been implemented in Boston Dynamics’ robots, enhancing their autonomy, navigation, recognition, and interaction with the environment. The ATLAS robot, one of the most advanced bipedal humanoid robots, is capable of walking, running, jumping, lifting objects, and even throwing them. One of the robots, equipped with ChatGPT and voice chat capabilities, can converse with people while moving and guiding them around the lab. Interestingly, the robot has different personalities. Videos shared by Boston Dynamics argue that the vision of robots living among us is not a distant future.
The Autonomous Robotic Kiwifruit project in New Zealand is a particularly impressive fruit-picking robot project. Initiated as a collaboration between the University of Auckland, the University of Waikato, Plant and Food Research, and RoboticsPlus Ltd, the project combines a wide range of knowledge and experience in agriculture, robotics, and engineering. The main goal is to develop autonomous robots capable of efficiently harvesting kiwifruit. The driving force behind such solutions was the growing problem of labor availability in New Zealand. The project focuses on developing advanced computer vision technologies, machine learning algorithms, and precise manipulative mechanisms to enable robots to autonomously navigate orchards and efficiently pick fruits without damaging them or the vines. The main challenge was to create a system that would be delicate and precise, yet efficient enough to compete with manual harvesting. This robot is also being developed for pollinating kiwi flowers, involving a system that includes an air-assisted sprayer and a vision system targeting flowers, working together with convolutional neural networks. The progress of this project is systematically presented in a series of scientific articles published by Henry Williams and others. This project exemplifies how combining knowledge and experience from different fields can lead to innovative solutions with a real impact on specific industries. This robot is already utilizing the potential of neural networks, reaffirming the practical application of current AI advancements in enhancing robots.
Contrary to robots, autonomous machines are already a reality. Both in Poland and worldwide, farms are using tractors equipped with systems that enable unmanned navigation across plantations. Considering that a project for an autonomous self-driving sprayer is also being developed in Poland, it indicates that these systems will be expanded to other machines such as various types of harvesters or self-propelled platforms. However, since most machinery requires a tractor to operate, the focus will be on automating various plant cultivation-related procedures requiring a tractor attachment. This could be especially crucial for farms where cultivation is conducted on a large area near the farm buildings, as it could virtually eliminate the need for these autonomous machines to traverse public roads. In practice, a properly trained autonomous system would depart from the farm directly to the plantation and begin the assigned task. Artificial intelligence could be further trained to control safety during machine operation, avoiding accidents in case of system failure and preventing the machine from moving freely, which could lead to various negative events.
One of the best examples of how technology development will change plant production, setting a clear future, is a robot capable of automatically detecting and destroying weeds. The development of such machines is a natural progression, and in the future, similar solutions can be expected in other sectors of plant protection and even plant nutrition.
Among the main leaders in developing such technology, manufacturers like John Deere can be mentioned:
John Deere: Recognized as an icon in agricultural equipment manufacturing, John Deere has been investing in the development of autonomous agricultural robots for years. The company focuses its efforts on creating advanced machines that can automatically perform a wide range of tasks on the farm, from sowing to harvesting. Their technology not only increases efficiency but also helps reduce the physical labor burden in agriculture. Blue River Technology, a part of John Deere, is revolutionizing crop care with its „see and spray” technology. Their innovations enable precise weed recognition and treatment, key in reducing herbicide use and protecting the environment.
CNH Industrial: Owner of well-known brands like Case IH and New Holland, CNH Industrial is another leading manufacturer engaging in the development of autonomous technologies. The company presents concepts of autonomous tractors and other agricultural vehicles that can work efficiently in fields without constant human supervision, enhancing work efficiency and safety.
AGCO: With brands like Massey Ferguson and Fendt, AGCO is also innovating in automation and robotics. Their technological development aims to simplify daily farm tasks and increase overall agricultural productivity.
Naïo Technologies: This French company, specializing in autonomous crop care robots like weeding, demonstrates how technologies can contribute to sustainable agriculture. Naïo’s robots, such as Oz, Dino, and Ted, not only increase work efficiency but also minimize the use of chemicals in agriculture.
It’s important to note that a great example of AI application in autonomously moving vehicles is Tesla, which has long been effectively implementing this technology.
At this stage, it’s also essential to clarify the difference between autonomy and automation. Automation refers to systems programmed to perform specific tasks without human intervention, based on predetermined algorithms and instructions. Unlike automation, the autonomy of a system allows it to make independent decisions while adapting to changing conditions without external interference. These systems also have the ability to learn from collected data and experiences.
A great example of devices based on automation systems can be those designed to perform simple tasks like automatic sorting of various types of plant-derived products. Of course, there’s nothing to prevent these devices from being equipped with autonomous systems. Due to labor availability issues and rising employment costs, the market is seeing more automated sorters, undoubtedly speeding up and often increasing the efficiency of sorting. Incorporating AI solutions into these systems will undoubtedly further enhance their effectiveness, due to higher accuracy, error reduction, and faster operation.
We may soon wake up in a world where robots, drones, and autonomous machines perform most of the work on plantations, and the human role will only be supervising their work and servicing them.