Autonomous agricultural vehicles are entering the marketplace, performing jobs that current equipment cannot do or are too dangerous for people to perform. They offer the prospect of greater farm productivity, and they will help to feed the world’s growing population. Commercialization of Autonomous Agricultural Vehicles looks at several topics that impact the commercial success of autonomous agricultural vehicles: Economic benefits Machine utilization rates Job quality Labor savings Reliability Standards and regulations Click here to access the full SAE EDGETM Research Report portfolio. https://doi.org/10.4271/EPR2022003
Agricultural vehicles often drive along the same terrain day after day or year after year. Yet, they still must detect if a moveable object, such as another vehicle or an animal, happens to be on their path or if environmental conditions have caused muddy spots or washouts. Obstacle detection is one of the major missing pieces that can remove humans from highly automated agricultural machines today and enable the autonomous vehicles of the future. Unsettled Topics in Obstacle Detection for Autonomous Agricultural Vehicles examines the challenges of environmental object detection and collision prevention, including air obscurants, holes and soft spots, prior maps, vehicle geometry, standards, and close contact with large objects. Click here to access the full SAE EDGETM Research Report portfolio. https://doi.org/10.4271/EPR2021029
The agricultural sector is responsible for a large share of anthropogenic greenhouse gases. At the same time, methods such as targeted land use change can reduce emissions from landscape elements and sequester carbon from the atmosphere in the soil. This process, also known as carbon farming, has not been uniformly defined, and faces challenges regarding establishing new requirments for agricultural vehicles and technology, creating profitable business models (that preclude “greenwashing”), and developing governmental frameworks and industry acceptance. Carbon Farming and Its Impact on Agricultural Technology discusses the large development gap for carbon farming methods, especially with regard to agricultural technology. In addition to the new hardware requirements arising from land use change, there is also a need for the further development of software. The establishment of suitable interfaces and solutions that are interoperable with existing technologies is also crucial at this point. This report clearly shows that more funding for research and development is needed today so that appropriate standards can be set and carbon farming can contribute to climate protection in the future. Click here to access the full SAE EDGETM Research Report portfolio. https://doi.org/10.4271/EPR2023026
The market penetration of highly automated agricultural vehicles in crop farming and arable environments is still very low. However, the unsettled issues and market barriers stem from three main topics. The first is the technical development and appropriate framework conditions for hardware and software required for autonomous field vehicles. The second is the regulatory framework needed to facilitate investment by manufacturers and users. Finally, the third topic is the willingness of the user to accept the non-deterministic systems that are common in agricultural practices today. Autonomous Field Robotics is a joint report between SAE International and the German Institute for Standardization (DIN) developed to enable relevant stakeholders—including users, regulators, researchers, and manufacturers, among others—to discuss the barriers facing automated agricultural vehicles. The report includes a cross-industry and cross-sector exchange on the three central aspects, a prioritization of the unsettled questions to be addressed, as well as a pragmatic framework to enable the use of autonomous field robotics beyond the scientific context in agricultural practice. Click here to access the full SAE EDGETM Research Report portfolio. https://doi.org/10.4271/EPR2022023
Embark on a journey through the pulsating heart of global commerce with the Commercial Vehicle Dictionary—a comprehensive guide illuminating the intricate language of transportation. From seasoned professionals to curious enthusiasts, this indispensable resource unveils the dynamic world of commercial vehicles, blending precision, innovation, and sustainability. Navigate with confidence as you explore a meticulously curated lexicon covering vehicle classifications, advanced technologies, safety protocols, regulatory frameworks, and emerging trends. Whether optimizing routes, tending to fields, or fascinated by machinery, this dictionary serves as your beacon through the ever-evolving landscape of commercial vehicles. Empower yourself with knowledge, enhance communication, and deepen your understanding of this multifaceted industry. Whether deciphering engine technologies, mastering logistics management, or staying updated on industry standards, let this dictionary be your compass in the vast realm of commercial vehicles. Dive into the rich tapestry of terms and concepts that shape the language of transportation—your journey begins here. (ISBN: 9781468607888 ISBN:9781468607895 ISBN:9781468607901 DOI:10.4271/9781468607895)
This book provides a review of the state-of-the-art of agricultural robotics in different aspects of PA, the goals, and the gaps. The book introduces the area of Agricultural Robotics for Precision Agriculture (PA) specifically the conditions and limitations for implementing robots in this field and presents the concepts, principles, required abilities, components, characteristics and performance measures, conditions, and rules for robots in PA.
Over the past few decades, extensive research has been conducted on the applications of agricultural robots and automation to a variety of field and greenhouse operations, and technical fundamentals and their feasibility have also been widely demonstrated. Due to the unstructured environment, adverse interference and complicated and diversified operation process are the key of blocking its commercialization in robotic agricultural operations. Because of the development of automation techniques, smart sensors, and information techniques, some types of agricultural robots have achieved considerable success in recent years. This book intends to provide the reader with a comprehensive overview of the current state of the art in agricultural robots, fundamentals, and applications in robotic agricultural operations.
An introduction to the science and practice of autonomous robots that reviews over 300 current systems and examines the underlying technology. Autonomous robots are intelligent machines capable of performing tasks in the world by themselves, without explicit human control. Examples range from autonomous helicopters to Roomba, the robot vacuum cleaner. In this book, George Bekey offers an introduction to the science and practice of autonomous robots that can be used both in the classroom and as a reference for industry professionals. He surveys the hardware implementations of more than 300 current systems, reviews some of their application areas, and examines the underlying technology, including control, architectures, learning, manipulation, grasping, navigation, and mapping. Living systems can be considered the prototypes of autonomous systems, and Bekey explores the biological inspiration that forms the basis of many recent developments in robotics. He also discusses robot control issues and the design of control architectures. After an overview of the field that introduces some of its fundamental concepts, the book presents background material on hardware, control (from both biological and engineering perspectives), software architecture, and robot intelligence. It then examines a broad range of implementations and applications, including locomotion (wheeled, legged, flying, swimming, and crawling robots), manipulation (both arms and hands), localization, navigation, and mapping. The many case studies and specific applications include robots built for research, industry, and the military, among them underwater robotic vehicles, walking machines with four, six, and eight legs, and the famous humanoid robots Cog, Kismet, ASIMO, and QRIO. The book concludes with reflections on the future of robotics—the potential benefits as well as the possible dangers that may arise from large numbers of increasingly intelligent and autonomous robots.
Automation has been shaping world agriculture since the early twentieth century. Motorized mechanization has brought significant benefits in terms of improved productivity, reduced drudgery and more efficient allocation of labour, but also some negative environmental impacts. More recently, a new generation of digital agricultural automation technologies has appeared, with the potential to further enhance productivity, as well as resilience, while also addressing the environmental sustainability challenges driven by past mechanization. The State of Food and Agriculture 2022 looks into the drivers of agricultural automation, including the more recent digital technologies. Based on 27 case studies, the report analyses the business case for adoption of digital automation technologies in different agricultural production systems across the world. It identifies several barriers preventing inclusive adoption of these technologies, particularly by small-scale producers. Key barriers are low digital literacy and lack of an enabling infrastructure, such as connectivity and access to electricity, in addition to financial constraints. Based on the analysis, the publication suggests policies to ensure that disadvantaged groups in developing regions can benefit from agricultural automation and that automation contributes to sustainable and resilient agrifood systems.
