Autonomous field robots are a promising technology for solving several problems in agriculture, as they are electrical driven, can control weeds single-plant based mechanically or with microdoses of pesticides and exert less ground pressure on the field. Whether such robots will be applied on a large scale in German agriculture depends on various parameters. Therefore, the factors influencing the behavioural intention of farmers with respect to their future adoption of autonomous field robots were investigated. The analysis applies a structural equation model based on an extended version of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. The dataset, collected in 2019, consists of 500 German farmers. The results reveal significantly positive effects of farmers’ expected performance, social influence and trust as well as significantly negative effects of farmers’ effort expectancy and anxiety on the behavioural intention to use autonomous field robots. Additionally, moderating effects of age on the relationship of individual constructs to the behavioural intent to use robots could be confirmed. The results provide important information for various stakeholders. Robot suppliers should better inform farmers about the performance of their products, for instance by involving farmers in the development process of the robots. The ecological benefits attributed to field robots could meet public expectations and should be better communicated to address farmers’ social influence on the behavioural intention to use the robots. Policymakers could try to create better framework conditions, for example by establishing a stable legal situation for autonomous systems or promote its use.

自主田间机器人是解决农业中一些问题的有前途的技术，因为它们是电力驱动的，可以机械地控制单株植物或使用微剂量杀虫剂来控制杂草，并且对田地施加的地面压力较小。这种机器人是否会在德国农业中大规模应用取决于各种参数。因此，研究了影响农民未来采用自主田间机器人的行为意图的因素。该分析应用了基于技术接受和使用统一理论的扩展版本的结构方程模型。该数据集于 2019 年收集，由 500 名德国农民组成。结果表明，农民的预期绩效具有显着的积极影响，社会影响和信任以及农民努力期望和焦虑对使用自主田间机器人的行为意图的显着负面影响。此外，可以确认年龄对个体结构与使用机器人的行为意图之间的关系的调节作用。结果为各种利益相关者提供了重要信息。机器人供应商应更好地告知农民其产品的性能，例如让农民参与机器人的开发过程。田间机器人带来的生态效益可以满足公众的期望，应该更好地传达，以解决农民对使用机器人的行为意向的社会影响。政策制定者可以尝试创造更好的框架条件，