Spain: Robotization reaches the greenhouses
Spanish researchers have developed a system that combines terrestrial and aerial robots to monitor and care for greenhouses.
The arrival of robotics in the industrial field is one of the most promising trends in digital transformation in the coming years. Practically all sectors will be impacted by the arrival of these new co-workers made of metal. Including the greenhouses.
Researchers of the Higher Council of Scientific Research (CSIC) and the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) designed a multi-robot team to measure the environmental variables of greenhouses and allow constant control of crop conditions. Specifically, the system consists of a terrestrial and an aerial robot to measure the temperature, humidity, luminosity and concentration of carbon dioxide in a greenhouse, both on the ground and at different heights.
The information collected by both robots on the greenhouse allows to know at all times the conditions of the crops and detect problems before it is too late. This approach of two machines allows to cover a greenhouse using less time than a single one, since each one can take advantage of its qualities to accomplish the tasks that are best given to it.
In this case, the terrestrial robot contributes robustness, autonomy and tolerance to failures, since it can travel the corridors of the greenhouse charging with its companion during 5 hours. For its part, the aerial robot provides agility and speed, since it is capable of intervening at precise moments, accessing difficult areas and taking measurements at different heights. What has been successfully tested in the simulations and field work carried out in an experimental greenhouse of the UPM School of Agricultural, Food and Biosystems Engineering.
The operation is very simple: first, the terrestrial robot goes through the corridors of the controlled greenhouse with a command to generate a map. Then, this robot performs its route in the greenhouse autonomously and takes measures of temperature, humidity, lighting and concentration of carbon dioxide.
When the terrestrial robot finds an obstacle that prevents its advance or detects an anomalous measurement, the aerial robot takes off, makes a route to avoid the obstacle or investigate the causes of the anomaly and lands again on the terrestrial robot. You can see the robots working on the ground in the following recording made by the researchers: http://youtu.be/o6SXPQv9LyU
Comment:
The Agricultural Research Institute (INIA), funded by the Foundation for Agrarian Innovation (FIA) through the National Innovation Competition for Sustainable Agriculture, developed the project “Semi-automated control of pests and diseases in tomato greenhouses for the reduction of pesticides and protection of human health ”, which consists of a system for applying chemicals to greenhouses by means of equipment that injects the spray mixture from outside the buildings, using a system of pipes and micro-sprinklers installed inside the greenhouse that distribute mix. The system is assisted by compressed air that helps to maintain the pressure inside the pipes, thereby achieving optimal nebulization.
The project was evaluated in two demonstration units in the VII region. The INIA researcher, Jorge Riquelme, indicated that the use of this sprayer in no case exceeded the minimum limit of permitted residues, emphasizing that this system decreased in 10 times the residues of chemical products in a demonstration module, while in the other it did not There was waste registration. Another advantage is that it avoids the presence of people inside the greenhouse to make the applications.
Source: Agrimundo - Ticbeat - Polytechnic University of Madrid - INIA - Minagri
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