Designing Scalable Robotic Systems for Next-Generation Agriculture: A Technological Perspective

This project sits within the context of food security challenges posed by the climate crisis, focusing on enhancing food security in climate-sensitive regions through technological innovation. The escalating impact of climate change on farming necessitates adaptive measures to sustain food production and support small-scale farmers who are particularly vulnerable. This PhD research aims to tackle these issues by developing agricultural robots that are autonomous, affordable, scalable and built using advanced Industry 4.0 technologies including additive manufacturing / 3D printing.

At the heart of this initiative are three primary objectives. The first is to establish a detailed taxonomic framework for agricultural robots. This framework will serve to guide the research and act as a foundation for future innovations, providing clear guidelines for the creation of scalable (or other) robotic units and systems within the agricultural sector.

Secondly, the research focuses on the design and construction of prototype robotic systems specifically tailored to the needs of smallholder farmers. These prototypes are aimed at reducing dependency on costly, large-scale mechanics by providing cost-effective alternatives that can be scaled to suit smaller operations.

While the primary focus is on the construction of prototype robotic systems, an ancillary objective is to conduct a modest impact assessment, gauging the social, economic, and environmental implications of introducing these systems.

The research places a strong emphasis on innovation, economic sustainability, resource efficiency and the broader social and environmental implications of introducing such technology. Designed with modularity and scalability in mind, the prototypes are intended to offer long-term investment returns, demonstrate significant energy and resource efficiency and exert minimal negative environmental impact.

The social dimensions of technology deployment are also important, with the research aiming to ensure the accessibility and inclusivity of agricultural robotics across communities, thereby facilitating integration where growers seek it, with consideration for the potential shifts in the local job markets.

The envisioned robotic units will be designed to perform a variety of functions including targeted irrigation, nutrient delivery and plant health monitoring, translocating plants and pest control; the functions will aim to replicate and enhance those currently carried out by people. Mobility units equipped to navigate diverse environments, both indoors and outdoors and pest control units with advanced vision systems for identification and environmentally friendly treatment methods are therefore part of the planned outcomes. These units are expected to operate collaboratively, using a decentralised communication network to optimise task allocation and performance.

Performance metrics will be established to measure efficiency, reliability, and the effectiveness of user interaction with the systems. The ultimate goal is to produce versatile robotic solutions capable of adapting to growers' requirements within various climatic conditions, thereby reinforcing the resilience of agricultural practices.

By combining academic research with practical implementation, this project aims to contribute to sustainable, ethical and inclusive agricultural practices, ensuring food security in the face of climate challenges.

The proposed CDT provides a unique vision of advanced RAS technologies embedded throughout the food supply chain, training the next generation of specialists and leaders in agri-food robotics and providing the underpinning research for the next generation of food production systems. These systems in turn will support the sustainable intensification of food production, the national agri-food industry, the environment, food quality and health.

RAS technologies are transforming global industries, creating new business opportunities and driving productivity across multiple sectors. The Agri-Food sector is the largest manufacturing sector of the UK and global economy. The UK food chain has a GVA of £108bn and employs 3.6m people. It is fundamentally challenged by global population growth, demographic changes, political pressures affecting migration and environmental impacts. In addition, agriculture has the lowest productivity of all industrial sectors (ONS, 2017). However, many RAS technologies are in their infancy - developing them within the agri-food sector will deliver impact but also provide a challenging environment that will significantly push the state of art in the underpinning RAS science. Although the opportunity for RAS is widely acknowledged, a shortage of trained engineers and specialists has limited the delivery of impact. This directly addresses this need and will produce the largest global cohort of RAS specialists in Agri-Food.

The impacts are multiple and include;

1) Impact on RAS technology. The Agri-Food sector provides an ideal test bed to develop multiple technologies that will have application in many industrial sectors and research domains. These include new approaches to autonomy and navigation in field environments; complex picking, grasping and manipulation; and novel applications of machine learning and AI in critical and essential sectors of the world economy.

2) Economic Impact. In the UK alone the Made Smarter Review (2017) estimates that automation and RAS will create £183bn of GVA over the next decade, £58bn of which from increased technology exports and reshoring of manufacturing. Expected impacts within Agri-Food are demonstrated by the £3.0M of industry support including the world largest agricultural engineering company (John Deere), the multinational Syngenta, one of the world's largest robotics manufacturers (ABB), the UK's largest farming company owned by James Dyson (one of the largest private investors in robotics), the UK's largest salads and fruit producer plus multiple SME RAS companies. These partners recognise the potential and need for RAS (see NFU and IAgrE Letters of Support).

3) Societal impact. Following the EU referendum, there is significant uncertainty that seasonal labour employed in the sector will be available going forwards, while the demographics of an aging population further limits the supply of manual labour. We see robotic automation as a means of performing onerous and difficult jobs in adverse environments, while advancing the UK skills base, enabling human jobs to move up the value chain and attracting skilled workers and graduates to Agri-Food.

4) Diversity impact. Gender under-representation is also a concern across the computer science, engineering and technology sectors, with only 15% of undergraduates being female. Through engagement with the EPSRC ASPIRE (Advanced Strategic Platform for Inclusive Research Environments) programme, AgriFoRwArdS will become an exemplar CDT with an EDI impact framework that is transferable to other CDTs.

5) Environmental Impact. The Agri-food sector uses 13% of UK carbon emissions and 70% of fresh water, while diffuse pollution from fertilisers and pesticides creates environmental damage. RAS technology, such as robotic weeders and field robots with advanced sensors, will enable a paradigm shift in precision agriculture that will sustainably intensify production while minimising environmental impacts.