User-centric adoption of sustainable farming operation involving ICT and robotics - Case: Grassland harvesting operations for biogas and bio refinery plants

Project information

User-centric adoption of sustainable farming operation involving ICT and robotics - Case: Grassland harvesting operations for biogas and bio refinery plants

Call: ICT and Automation for a Greener Agriculture

Id: 14304

Acronym: GrassBots

Duration: 
1 March, 2013 to 28 February, 2015

Consortium:
No Partner Contact Country Total
1000€
Funded
1000€
Funder
1 Coord.Department of Engineering
Aarhus School of Engineering
Aarhus University
Claus SørensenDenmark58.548.2Danish AgriFish Agency
Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries
2Faculty of Engineering
University of Southern Denmark
Rasmus Nyholm JørgensenDenmark35.028.0Danish AgriFish Agency
Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries
3Harper Adams University CollegeSimon BlackmoreUnited Kingdom21.70.0Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
4Department of Automation and Systems Technology
School of Electrical Engineering
School of Science and Technology
Aalto University
Timo OksanenFinland62.944.0Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
5Agro Business Park
Simon PoulsenDenmark11.03.0Danish AgriFish Agency
Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries
6Agro Intelligence ApSOle GreenDenmark95.047.0Danish AgriFish Agency
Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries
7Conpleks Innovation ApS
Tom SimonsenDenmark67.830.1Danish AgriFish Agency
Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries
8Lynex
Jens HansenDenmark48.24.6Danish AgriFish Agency
Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries
9Crop Production Technogy
Plant production technology
Crop Technology
Plant Production Research
Senior Research Scientist
MTT Agrifood Research Finland
Antti SuokannasFinland34.017.0Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

Summary: 

Lowland areas and other marginal areas form a huge and currently unused resource of biomass for the biogas and bio refinery industry. Alone for Denmark, it has been estimated that 160-180.000 hectares of unused lowland could be harvested if the appropriate technology was available. This project will develop a novel lightweight, autonomous machine concept for economically and environmentally sound harvest of grass on lowland. The project will adapt an existing commercial mower into an autonomous robot platform, develop implements for cutting, collecting and transporting the harvested material out of the field and develop software to plan, schedule, document and visualize the harvest operation. Additional, the concept will be demonstrated in three countries under realistic field conditions, but following all current safety regulations. Finally, the project is seen as a stepping-stone towards future autonomous work units coupled with efficient management systems.

Impact: 

GrassBots implements the adaptation and operation of planning tools for robots in agriculture. The Danish GrassBot machine has been adapted into a prototype version of an autonomous workable grass-cutting machine. The retrofitted GrassBot has received much interest for the whole autonomous concept. A key obstacle for its further commercialisation is the price, but negotiations between the company Lynex and potential investors are expected. Based on the robotics hardware and auto-steering and positioning software for GrassBot, Conpleks has continued to further develop a generic original equipment manufacturer (OEM) robotics software package, which is ready to be integrated on agricultural robots, e.g., for grass cutting and other agricultural applications. Co-operation with multiple domestic and international companies is pending. Commercialisation activities for Kongskilde (AGROINTELLI), in connection with the GrassBot project, include the development of a ‘nextversion’ of a biomass mower to cut plant/grass material in wild areas while minimising damage to the natural landscape. The development of robotic architecture and a tablet user interface will continue to be developed in other R&D projects and is expected to be sold.

Outputs: 
  • The project will adapt an existing commercial mower into an autonomous robot platform, develop implements for cutting, collecting and transporting the harvested material out of the field and develop software to plan, schedule, document and visualize the harvest operation.
  • Additional, the concept will be demonstrated in three countries under realistic field conditions, but following all current safety regulations.
  • Finally, the project is seen as a stepping-stone towards future autonomous work units coupled with efficient management systems.
Topics: 
  • System design, machine implementation
  • Operations optimisation
  • Autonomous robotic navigation

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