Trials have recently taken place to de-risk autonomous technology for agriculture, aiming to boost farmers’ confidence in adopting new technologies and showcasing their potential effects on efficiency, sustainability, and environmental impact. The agricultural sector is under mounting pressure to produce high-quality, low-cost food while reducing its environmental footprint. Automation is a key enabler in this endeavor, yet its adoption has been slower than anticipated.
The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) Cymru, in partnership with Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s agricultural campus, Glynllifon, sought to address this issue. The collaboration aimed to explore the real-world benefits of automating in-field operations, particularly grassland management, using AMRC Cymru’s autonomous tractor, AgBot. The purchase of the AgBot was funded by the Welsh government, reflecting the region’s commitment to advancing agricultural technology.
The trials focused on two common grassland operations—mowing and cultivating—executed by three tractors with varying degrees of automation: fully autonomous, semi-autonomous, and fully manual. The Fendt Vario 516 tractor, similar in size and specification to the AgBot, was used for the semi-autonomous trial at the Glynllifon campus in Caernarfon.
The results were insightful. While the AgBot was slower for some operations, its ability to work continuously for up to 24 hours without human labor made it a valuable asset for tasks like soil cultivation. This continuous operation capability allows farmers to focus on other tasks, enhancing overall productivity. Moreover, the AgBot’s lower fuel consumption and reduced CO2 emissions make it an environmentally friendly option for slower operations like harrowing.
Alex Lewis, Manufacturing Engineering Lead at AMRC Cymru, highlighted the significance of the RASART project: “While the trials importantly highlighted areas for future development, the evidence-based evaluation provided valuable insights into the advantages and disadvantages of automation for both today and looking to the future, ultimately empowering farmers with a deeper understanding of its potential impact on efficiency and sustainability.”
The trials also underscored the importance of collaborative efforts between research organizations, agricultural colleges, and technology providers. Martin Jardine, Director of Agri Food at Grŵp Llandrillo Menai, noted that the results are encouraging and offer verified data on the potential of automation to increase on-farm productivity and efficiency.
Despite the AgBot’s significant upfront investment, its ability to operate autonomously leads to cost savings over time. The longer the usage period, the more cost-effective the AgBot becomes. After ten years, the AgBot could save roughly £140,000 compared to a manual tractor and £120,000 compared to a semi-autonomous tractor.
These trials provided a real-world demonstration of an autonomous system, highlighting potential benefits such as labor savings and accuracy in field operations. However, they also identified areas requiring further development to ensure the systems are truly usable and beneficial, particularly within grassland-based livestock farming systems.
The integration of autonomous systems in agriculture can drive greater efficiency, sustainability, and resilience, positioning the sector to meet growing food demand and associated challenges. Such systems can collect large amounts of data, providing invaluable information and insights to optimize the use of external inputs like fertilizer, seeds, and pesticides.
The team at AMRC Cymru is currently exploring ways to improve autonomous solutions like the AgBot, focusing on areas such as object detection and making implements ‘smart.’ The partnership with Grŵp Llandrillo Menai will continue through to June 2026, allowing for further testing and demonstrations to raise awareness and interest in this technology among farmers and agriculture students.