For some agricultural processes, such as harvest and logistics, using autonomous small field robots could already make economic sense, according to a report from the Sino-German Agricultural Centre.
In analysis based on a typical 150-hectare wheat operation, it was estimated that robots required for harvest and logistics would have a cost of 52€/ha, compared to 107€/ha using existing technologies. Using robots for physical plant protection also showed positive cost comparisons of 40€/ha to 55€/ha with ‘business as usual’.
Costs for tillage and seeding using robots were estimated to be similar to those for what is being used today, while wide-ranging estimates were offered for fertilizing and chemical plant protection, with the upper end of the range considerably exceeding the costs of current methods.
Data clarity and more testing needed
The report, which was supported by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, also details the number of agricultural robots currently being worked on. Citing data from leading Austrian agricultural research institute HBLFA, the authors note that 136 robots from 109 manufacturers, in 26 countries, were in development in October 2021.
While these figures highlight considerable activity in an emerging field, the report goes on to highlight five key areas where improvements are needed if automated robotics is to move into the agricultural mainstream.
Opportunities for farmers to test new machinery, investment in pilot projects, clarification of legal uncertainties, as well as guarantees of data exchange and appropriate training are cited as priorities for the sector.
Increasingly standardized systems for managing data, with transparent documentation, were also urged by the authors. Continuity of service needs to be guaranteed in the event of a crisis, and for farmers to have sovereignty over their own data, they added.
