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Robots poised to transform agriculture

Rob Bogue (Consultant, Okehampton, UK)

Industrial Robot

ISSN: 0143-991x

Article publication date: 22 July 2021

Issue publication date: 21 September 2021

318

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to illustrate the growing importance of agricultural robots by providing details of recent product developments and their applications.

Design/methodology/approach

Following a short introduction, this first discusses a range of agricultural applications of drones. It then provides details of a selection of mobile field robots and their applications. Finally, concluding comments are drawn.

Findings

Commercially available aerial and terrestrial robots are playing a rapidly growing role in a diversity of agricultural practices. Key capabilities and benefits include detecting crop stress and disease, predicting crop yields, reducing agrochemical use, overcoming manpower shortages and reducing labour costs and facilitating precision agricultural practices such as highly localised pesticide and herbicide application and the replacement of large, heavy agricultural machines by fleets of small, lightweight robots.

Originality/value

This provides a detailed insight into the many ways in which robots are transforming agricultural practices.

Keywords

Citation

Bogue, R. (2021), "Robots poised to transform agriculture", Industrial Robot, Vol. 48 No. 5, pp. 637-642. https://doi.org/10.1108/IR-05-2021-0097

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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