Robots in the Rhizosphere
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Aerospace Engineering
Abstract
Project description:
A lot goes on under the ground. Soil harbours an ecosystem filled with representatives from each of the kingdoms of life. In it we anchor our cities, we grow our food, we mine our resources. When its balance is disrupted, we see floods, failed crops, desertification. But to us this world is largely hidden from our view. We cannot see well into the soil or easily move through it. To lay or inspect cables or pipes we resort to the invasive process of digging or ploughing deep trenches. In agriculture, great progress is being made in assessing crop health from above, but we cannot easily determine the quality of the underlying soil to sufficient depth or resolution.
Plants, however, have evolved to operate efficiently within the soil. Their roots unobtrusively spread through the earth, branching to cover ground efficiently. These roots anchor the plant, they cultivate the soil, they extract the nutrients the plant needs to live. Root tips can sense the state of the soil around them: it's temperature, moisture content, pH and even the presence of other plants. Plants dynamically adjust the way they grow in order to seek out the best conditions for homeostasis. This happens with no central brain, but rather through the body of the plant itself. Other entities also work in the same domain: fungi with their dense mycelial networks; worms, moles, and other animals; bacteria and other single-celled life. These work at different depths and perform different roles in the subterranean universe. By taking inspiration from these organisms, as well as plant roots, we can envision robots which too can fit into this underground world without disrupting it.
Soft robots are well suited to this challenge. Great degrees of preciseness and speed are not needed here, but instead the ability to adapt is favoured. In contrast to rigid robots which need spaces acceptable to their operation, soft robots are flexible to their environment. Living organisms grow and change their shape in response to what is around them. As with root tips turning away from light, these behaviours can be embodied in soft robots through their shape and the materials used. If desired, these materials could be biodegradable, meaning the robots can decay away at the end of their life.
The purpose of this project therefore is to investigate how soft robots can be used to act in and around plant roots and soil.
A lot goes on under the ground. Soil harbours an ecosystem filled with representatives from each of the kingdoms of life. In it we anchor our cities, we grow our food, we mine our resources. When its balance is disrupted, we see floods, failed crops, desertification. But to us this world is largely hidden from our view. We cannot see well into the soil or easily move through it. To lay or inspect cables or pipes we resort to the invasive process of digging or ploughing deep trenches. In agriculture, great progress is being made in assessing crop health from above, but we cannot easily determine the quality of the underlying soil to sufficient depth or resolution.
Plants, however, have evolved to operate efficiently within the soil. Their roots unobtrusively spread through the earth, branching to cover ground efficiently. These roots anchor the plant, they cultivate the soil, they extract the nutrients the plant needs to live. Root tips can sense the state of the soil around them: it's temperature, moisture content, pH and even the presence of other plants. Plants dynamically adjust the way they grow in order to seek out the best conditions for homeostasis. This happens with no central brain, but rather through the body of the plant itself. Other entities also work in the same domain: fungi with their dense mycelial networks; worms, moles, and other animals; bacteria and other single-celled life. These work at different depths and perform different roles in the subterranean universe. By taking inspiration from these organisms, as well as plant roots, we can envision robots which too can fit into this underground world without disrupting it.
Soft robots are well suited to this challenge. Great degrees of preciseness and speed are not needed here, but instead the ability to adapt is favoured. In contrast to rigid robots which need spaces acceptable to their operation, soft robots are flexible to their environment. Living organisms grow and change their shape in response to what is around them. As with root tips turning away from light, these behaviours can be embodied in soft robots through their shape and the materials used. If desired, these materials could be biodegradable, meaning the robots can decay away at the end of their life.
The purpose of this project therefore is to investigate how soft robots can be used to act in and around plant roots and soil.
Planned Impact
Rapid growth in the already burgeoning Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) market has been estimated from many sources. This growth is driven by socio-economic needs and enabled by advances in algorithms and technologies converging on robotics. The market potential for applications of robotics and autonomous systems is, therefore, of huge value to the UK. There are four major areas where FARSCOPE will strive to fulfil and deliver on the impact agenda.
1. Training: A coherent strategy for impact must observe the value of the 'innovation pipeline'; from training of world-class researchers to novel products in the 'shop window'. The FARSCOPE training programme described in the Case for Support will produce researchers who will be able to advance knowledge, expertise and skills in the many associated aspects of academic pursuit in the field. Crucially, they will be guided by its industrial partners and BRL's Industrial Advisory Group, so that they are grounded in the real-world context of the many robotics and autonomous systems application domains. This means pursuing research excellence while embracing the challenges set within the context of a range of real-world factors.
2. Economic and Social Exploitation: The elevated position of advanced robotics, in the commercial 'value chain', makes it imperative that we create graduates from our Centre who are acutely aware of this potential. BRL is centrally engaged in its regional SME and business ecology, as evidenced by its recent industry workshop and 'open lab' events, which attracted some 60 and 280 industrial delegates respectively. BRL is also a key contributor to regional economic innovation. BRL has engaged two business managers and allocated some dedicated space to specifically support work on RAS related industrial engagement and innovation and, importantly, technology incubation. BRL will be creating an EU-funded Robotics Innovation Facilities to help coordinating a EUR 20m a programme to specifically promote and encourage direct links between academia and industry with a focus on SMEs. All of these high-impact BRL activities will be fed directly into the FARSCOPE programme.
A critical mass of key industrial and end-user partnerships across a diverse array of sectors have given their support to the FARSCOPE centre. All have indicated their interest in engaging through the FARSCOPE mechanisms identified in the Case for Support. These demonstrate the impact of the FARSCOPE centre in engaging existing, and forming new, strategic partnerships in the RAS field.
3. Fostering links with other Research Institutions and Academic Dissemination: It is essential that FARSCOPE CDT students learn to share best practice with other RAS research centres, both in the UK and beyond. In addition to attendance and presentation at academic conferences nationally and overseas, FARSCOPE will use the following mechanisms to engage with the academic community. BRL has very many strong links with the UK, EU and global RAS research community. We will use these as a basis for cementing existing links and fostering new ones.
4. Engaging the Public: FARSCOPE will train and then encourage its student cohorts to engage with the general public, to educate about the potential of these new technologies, to participate in debates on ethics, safety and legality of autonomous systems, and to enthuse future generations to work in this exciting area. UWE and the University of Bristol, BRL's two supporting institutions, host the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement. In addition, UWE's Science Communication Unit is internationally renowned for its diverse and innovative activities, which engage the public with science. FARSCOPE students will receive guidance and training in public engagement in order to act as worthy RAS research 'ambassadors'.
1. Training: A coherent strategy for impact must observe the value of the 'innovation pipeline'; from training of world-class researchers to novel products in the 'shop window'. The FARSCOPE training programme described in the Case for Support will produce researchers who will be able to advance knowledge, expertise and skills in the many associated aspects of academic pursuit in the field. Crucially, they will be guided by its industrial partners and BRL's Industrial Advisory Group, so that they are grounded in the real-world context of the many robotics and autonomous systems application domains. This means pursuing research excellence while embracing the challenges set within the context of a range of real-world factors.
2. Economic and Social Exploitation: The elevated position of advanced robotics, in the commercial 'value chain', makes it imperative that we create graduates from our Centre who are acutely aware of this potential. BRL is centrally engaged in its regional SME and business ecology, as evidenced by its recent industry workshop and 'open lab' events, which attracted some 60 and 280 industrial delegates respectively. BRL is also a key contributor to regional economic innovation. BRL has engaged two business managers and allocated some dedicated space to specifically support work on RAS related industrial engagement and innovation and, importantly, technology incubation. BRL will be creating an EU-funded Robotics Innovation Facilities to help coordinating a EUR 20m a programme to specifically promote and encourage direct links between academia and industry with a focus on SMEs. All of these high-impact BRL activities will be fed directly into the FARSCOPE programme.
A critical mass of key industrial and end-user partnerships across a diverse array of sectors have given their support to the FARSCOPE centre. All have indicated their interest in engaging through the FARSCOPE mechanisms identified in the Case for Support. These demonstrate the impact of the FARSCOPE centre in engaging existing, and forming new, strategic partnerships in the RAS field.
3. Fostering links with other Research Institutions and Academic Dissemination: It is essential that FARSCOPE CDT students learn to share best practice with other RAS research centres, both in the UK and beyond. In addition to attendance and presentation at academic conferences nationally and overseas, FARSCOPE will use the following mechanisms to engage with the academic community. BRL has very many strong links with the UK, EU and global RAS research community. We will use these as a basis for cementing existing links and fostering new ones.
4. Engaging the Public: FARSCOPE will train and then encourage its student cohorts to engage with the general public, to educate about the potential of these new technologies, to participate in debates on ethics, safety and legality of autonomous systems, and to enthuse future generations to work in this exciting area. UWE and the University of Bristol, BRL's two supporting institutions, host the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement. In addition, UWE's Science Communication Unit is internationally renowned for its diverse and innovative activities, which engage the public with science. FARSCOPE students will receive guidance and training in public engagement in order to act as worthy RAS research 'ambassadors'.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Jonathan Rossiter (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Daniel Gosden (Student) |