New technology makes agricultural robots accessible for growers
The rise of autonomous robots offers major opportunities for more sustainable agriculture. But for growers, actually implementing this technology can still be a challenge: a user-friendly platform is often missing. Within the NXTGEN Hightech project Pixelfarming Robotics, work has therefore focused on developing a programming language that makes it easy to deploy and adapt robots for specific tasks. After two years, the project has been successfully completed. Pixelfarming Brand Manager Cindy van Dommelen says: “The project has really helped us identify new opportunities and significantly accelerated the development of our platform.”
User-friendly robot platform for growers
In the agritech sector, the programming languages used for robots are still evolving. As a result, many growers struggle to use robots in their operations. This NXTGEN Hightech project focused on developing a no-code/low-code platform that enables growers with minimal technical knowledge to work with robots. Cindy explains: “For our own agricultural robot, the Robot One, we developed a platform that links visual images to specific actions. The robot essentially functions as an intelligent scanning device that collects and analyzes data, which the platform then translates into concrete actions.”
Weed control with lasers
One example of how the robot can be used is weed control. The robot can distinguish between crops and weeds at a very early stage. Once weeds are detected, it activates a laser actuator to remove them immediately. “In this project, we closely collaborated with a group of growers to determine what they need to make the robot practical and easy to use,” Cindy says. “That worked very well. The usability of the platform has greatly improved - with a much more intuitive interface and a refined laser calibration process, for example. Beyond the technical progress, we also renewed the onboarding process, lowering the barrier for growers even further.”
Technology gaining momentum
Thanks to the project, both the programming language and the technology behind the Robot One have advanced rapidly. Cindy concludes: “Our goal of making robots accessible and scalable for growers is now much closer to reality. We’re seeing strong interest both nationally and internationally, and the collaboration and developments within the NXTGEN Hightech project have played an important role in that success.”
Meer weten over dit project?
Bekijk de projectpagina om meer te lezen over het project en in contact te komen.