The UK’s Small Robot Company (SRC) has achieved a significant milestone in its collaboration with Strathclyde University, Agri-EPI, and Chinese partners. After two years of work on an Innovate UK Smart Farms project, the team has successfully integrated a specially developed sprayer onto the Tomv4 robotic platform. This development marks the first time SRC has integrated a third-party tool into its commercial robot, opening the door for future integration of other systems.
The integration of the sprayer onto the Tomv4 robot is expected to have a game-changing impact on the agricultural industry. Ben Scott-Robinson, CEO of SRC, explains that precision spraying could enable a new generation of spot treatments, cut costs, and significantly reduce the environmental impact. With increasing pressure from regulators, farmers are left with limited options, making microspraying a valuable solution.
While the Tomv4 robot does not scan and spray in a single operation, it uses its existing ‘See then Spray’ process. The robot first scans and maps every plant and weed to a resolution of 0.28mm/px. This data is then analyzed to produce a treatment map, which is used to control the on-board sprayer in a separate operation. Ray King, Technical Lead for R&D projects, explains that this approach allows the robot to maintain the accuracy required for microspraying to a resolution of 25cm x 25cm.
Currently, the robot captures and retains all data in the field, processing it in the cloud to produce valuable insights. However, the company is working on developing the robot to enable real-time processing of data, removing any unnecessary information. This will allow the robot to react in real time and optimize its operations.
One of the key achievements of SRC is its ability to detect and map grass weeds at the single leaf stage on a field scale. Interestingly, the company does not rely on special sensors for this task. Instead, it uses standard RGB cameras and advanced software to identify and analyze the weeds.
In terms of capacity, the robot can achieve a normal work rate of about 20 ha/day for scanning. To cover larger arable fields, additional robots can be added rather than expanding the size of the equipment. When it comes to treatments, the sprayer’s output varies depending on the area of infestation. The robot not only treats specific areas but also calculates the shortest route to cover the entire field.
Looking to the future, SRC plans to incorporate Pulse Width Modulation into the microspraying system. This will allow for targeted applications and the ability to vary the dose rate based on the level of weed or pest infestation. The precise weed maps generated by the robot can also be used to assess the impact and efficacy of the treatment. Additionally, they can be integrated into creating nitrogen variable rate maps, further enhancing precision agriculture practices.
The successful integration of the sprayer onto the Tomv4 robot marks a significant achievement for SRC. It paves the way for future developments and the potential integration of other systems onto the platform. With its innovative approach to weed detection and microspraying, SRC is poised to revolutionize the agricultural industry and provide farmers with more effective and sustainable solutions.