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Robotisation of strip-cropping systems: prototype design guidelines for targeted fertilisation

Barrientos, Antonio; Valero, Constantino; Cerro, Jaime; Krus, Anne; Roldán, Juan Jesús; Ramirez, Juan José; Lima, Matheus Cardim Ferreira; Willekens, Koen; Koopmans, Chris J.; Rossing, Walter; Trinchera, Alessandra; Himanen, Sari; Barbry, Joran; Lepse, Līga and Kristensen, Hanne Lakkenborg (2021) Robotisation of strip-cropping systems: prototype design guidelines for targeted fertilisation. [Robotización de cultivos en franjas: diseño de unprototipo para fertilización dirigida.] In: Book of Abstracts of the Science Forum at the OWC2021.

[thumbnail of Book of Absracts - SCIENCE Forum-Thünen Report 88-VFL Sureveg.pdf] PDF - Published Version - English
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Document available online at: https://owc.ifoam.bio/2021/en


Summary

Organic agriculture has an increasing demand, driving conventional farmers to
change their businesses [1]. In some cases, the lack of attention for biodiversity and soil fertility
of current practices may damage the credibility of organic products [2]. The SUREVEG project
focuses on the implementation of strip-cropping in organic production to improve soil fertility
and biodiversity throughout Europe.
The aim is to enhance resilience, system sustainability, local nutrient recycling, and soil carbon
storage [3]. However, husbandry crops grown and mixed in a strip design pose new challenges
regarding mechanisation, which in many cases can only be overcome by increasing human
tasks [4]. To counteract the additional labour of a multi-crop system, one of the main objectives
of this project is the development of automated machinery for the management of stripcropping
systems.
A robotic tool is proposed, which will be operating upside down, attached to a wide-span mobile
carriage similarto gantry systems used in Controlled Traffic Farming. Within the project
framework, a modular proof-of-concept version is being produced, combining sensing
technologies with actuation in the form of a robotic arm.
Despite many robotic developments recently presented, which are designed for weed removal,
this proof-of-concept will focus on providing precise organic fertilization. Fertiliser needs will
be identified in real-time and carried out on a single-plant scale. Design guidelines of the
proposed prototype have been detailed.
The planning and control of the manipulator are being developed in two ways: using
conventional algorithms and applying machine learning techniques. First results have been
also obtained with the sensorics onboard the robotic platform, by using a combination of LiDAR
systems and multispectral cameras to localize single plants, and to detect their status,
according to fertilisation demands


EPrint Type:Conference paper, poster, etc.
Type of presentation:Poster
Keywords:fertilization, LIDAR, manipulator, multispectral camera, robotics, strip cropping
Agrovoc keywords:
Language
Value
URI
English
robots
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_25680
English
strip cropping
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_25705
Subjects: Crop husbandry > Crop combinations and interactions
Crop husbandry > Crop health, quality, protection
Research affiliation: European Union > CORE Organic > CORE Organic Cofund > SUREVEG
Spain > CSIC (Spanish National Research Council)
Spain > Polytechnic University of Madrid
Deposited By: Valero, Constantino
ID Code:43103
Deposited On:10 Jan 2022 08:26
Last Modified:10 Jan 2022 08:26
Document Language:English
Status:Published
Refereed:Peer-reviewed and accepted

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