GET THE APP

Advancing Sustainable Food Production: The Role of Robotics in Agriculture Automation
..

Advances in Robotics & Automation

ISSN: 2168-9695

Open Access

Opinion - (2023) Volume 12, Issue 3

Advancing Sustainable Food Production: The Role of Robotics in Agriculture Automation

Znfei Lery*
*Correspondence: Znfei Lery, Department of Robotics and Aerospace, University of New York, New York, USA, Email:
Department of Robotics and Aerospace, University of New York, New York, USA

Received: 02-Sep-2023, Manuscript No. Ara-23-118657; Editor assigned: 04-Sep-2023, Pre QC No. P-118657; Reviewed: 18-Sep-2023, QC No. Q-118657; Revised: 23-Sep-2023, Manuscript No. R-118657; Published: 30-Sep-2023 , DOI: 10.37421/2168-9695.2023.12.255
Citation: Lery, Znfei. “Advancing Sustainable Food Production: The Role of Robotics in Agriculture Automation.” Adv Robot Autom 12 (2023): 255.
Copyright: © 2023 Lery Z. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Introduction

Regulatory frameworks should promote innovation while safeguarding the interests of farmers, consumers, and the environment. While agricultural robotics can contribute to sustainable farming practices, it is important to assess and mitigate any potential negative environmental impacts, such as increased energy consumption or unintended ecological consequences. Implementing sustainable farming practices in conjunction with robotics can help minimize environmental risks and promote long-term ecological balance. Effective policies and regulations must be developed to govern the use of agricultural robotics, addressing concerns related to data privacy, safety standards, and the equitable distribution of technological advancements across different farming communities. The adoption of robotics in agriculture may have social and cultural implications, particularly in rural communities where farming traditions and livelihoods are deeply rooted. Understanding and addressing the social and cultural impact of technological advancements can help ensure the acceptance and successful integration of agricultural robotics within diverse farming communities [1].

Description

The integration of robotics in agriculture has the potential to significantly transform the farming industry, leading to increased efficiency, productivity, and sustainability. However, alongside the benefits, the introduction of agricultural robotics also raises various ethical, policy, and societal considerations that must be addressed to ensure responsible and beneficial deployment. As robotics technology becomes more prevalent in agriculture, ethical concerns may arise, including issues related to job displacement, fair distribution of benefits, and the ethical treatment of animals in automated systems. Ensuring ethical guidelines and standards in the development and deployment of agricultural robots is essential to uphold moral principles and address societal concerns. The developments in robotic solutions for the agriculture sector are crucial for improving efficiency and addressing various challenges in farming practices. As the adoption of robotics in agriculture continues to grow, the need for advanced and reliable localization methods becomes increasingly important, especially in environments where conventional systems like Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) might not be fully effective [2].

Additionally, the adoption of autonomous vehicles in logistics and freight transportation promises streamlined supply chains, improved delivery times, and reduced costs. The integration of robotics and automation in transportation is not limited to road vehicles, as drones and unmanned aerial vehicles are being deployed for tasks such as package delivery and surveillance. Innovations in robotics and automation are revolutionizing agriculture, addressing labour shortages and increasing productivity. Robots equipped with computer vision and machine learning algorithms can identify and selectively harvest crops, minimizing waste and increasing efficiency. Autonomous drones equipped with sensors and imaging technology provide valuable insights into crop health, enabling farmers to optimize irrigation, pest control, and fertilizer usage. With increased reliance on data-driven technologies, ensuring the security and privacy of agricultural data is crucial. Developing robust cyber security measures and data protection protocols is essential to safeguard sensitive information, prevent data breaches, and maintain trust in the use of agricultural robotics. Automation has also led to cost savings as machines can operate continuously without the need for breaks, resulting in increased output and decreased labor costs. Robots are utilized in indoor farming environments to perform tasks such as seeding, watering, and harvesting. These robots can operate in vertical farming systems and controlled environment facilities, allowing for year-round production of crops in a controlled and optimized environment. flow, leading to reduced congestion and shorter commute times.

The use of SLAM in agriculture and forestry not only facilitates accurate robot localization but also contributes to the creation of detailed maps that can be utilized by human operators for monitoring and decision-making purposes. These maps serve as valuable resources for understanding the terrain, optimizing farming practices, and providing essential data for crop management. Additionally, the ability to save and update these maps allows for improved efficiency and consistency in robotic operations over time. Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) has emerged as a key technique in addressing the localization challenges in agriculture and forestry. SLAM allows robots to estimate their own position and orientation within an environment while simultaneously constructing a map of their surroundings using input data from various sensors. This technology is instrumental in enabling robots to navigate safely and effectively in complex agricultural and forestry landscapes. In cases where mapping the environment is not the primary goal, alternative methods such as Visual Odometer (VO) are employed. Visual odometry enables the estimation of a robot's motion using only visual input data from on-board cameras, allowing for effective localization without the explicit creation of a detailed map. This approach proves beneficial, particularly in scenarios where real-time motion estimation is critical for successful navigation and operation [3-5].

Conclusion

Continued research and development in intelligent localization solutions, including advancements in SLAM and alternative methods like VO, are instrumental in enhancing the capabilities of agricultural robotics, contributing to increased productivity, optimized resource management, and sustainable agricultural practices. These advancements are poised to significantly impact the future of the agriculture sector, promoting technological innovation and improved efficiency in farming operations.

Acknowledgement

None.

Conflict of Interest

None.

References

  1. Mahmud, Mohd Saiful Azimi, Mohamad Shukri Zainal Abidin, Abioye Abiodun Emmanuel and Hameedah Sahib Hasan. "Robotics and automation in agriculture: Present and future applications." Model Simul Eng 4 (2020): 130-140.

    Google Scholar, Indexed at

  2. Emmi, Luis, Mariano Gonzalez-de-Soto, Gonzalo Pajares and Pablo Gonzalez-de-Santos. "New trends in robotics for agriculture: Integration and assessment of a real fleet of robots." Sci World J 2014 (2014).

    Google Scholar, Crossref, Indexed at

  3. Aguiar, André Silva, Filipe Neves dos Santos, José Boaventura Cunha and Héber Sobreira, et al. "Localization and mapping for robots in agriculture and forestry: A survey." Robotics 9 (2020): 97.

    Google Scholar, Crossref, Indexed at

  4. Sparrow, Robert and Mark Howard. "Robots in agriculture: Prospects, impacts, ethics, and policy." Precis Agric 22 (2021): 818-833.

    Google Scholar, Crossref, Indexed at

  5. Roldán, Juan Jesús, Jaime del Cerro, David Garzón-Ramos and Pablo Garcia-Aunon, et al. "Robots in agriculture: State of art and practical experiences." Service robots (2018): 67-90.

    Google Scholar, CrossrefIndexed at

Google Scholar citation report
Citations: 1275

Advances in Robotics & Automation received 1275 citations as per Google Scholar report

Advances in Robotics & Automation peer review process verified at publons

Indexed In

 
arrow_upward arrow_upward