Economic pressure to keep consumer costs Low are driving a renewed push towards higher efficiency, offset against a movement towards a more environmentally friendly approach to food production. It is now universally accepted that the solution to this is the widespread adoption of robotics across all agricultural areas.
Such a platform needs to be rugged, reliable and economic. DCE are uniquely positioned to provide low cost, environmentally friendly platforms based on the current X-series vehicles, or by converting existing platforms using the MarionetteTM control system. Each platform must be suitable for the area in which it operates in terms of mobility and terrain, speed, carrying capacity and battery Life.
To compensate for the lack of available work force, intelligence is required to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of staff. Semi-autonomous and autonomous capabilities must be present so that the platform can self-navigate around the areas in which it operates, and to interface into the specific equipment required for the given tasks. Specialist tasks may require additional equipment and associated information. Examples of this might include soft fruit picking manipulators or ripeness detection.
DCE can deliver both of these key components to all agricultural robotics solutions. A good example of this is the IBEX2: Autonomous Robot Weed Sprayer for Less Favoured Areas. This highly successful consortium, funded by Innovate UK, was selected by DEFRA as delivering an ‘exemplary project as well as receiving direct recognition from the then government ministers, George Eustice MP and Rory Stewart MP.
