Robotics is the application of technology in order to perform work mechanically. In the context of agriculture, robots have been developed to spray pesticides, harvest crops, and even pick weeds. While some of these applications are still being explored, others are already being implemented in farms around the world.In today’s article we will discuss Robotics and the importance of robotics in our life. Let’s talk about Robotics in detail.
Table of Contents
Introduction to Robotics
Robots have been around since the 1950’s and have made great progress over time. In the past, robots were mainly used in harsh environments where they could not withstand human interaction. Over time, these machines became more intelligent and advanced, making them able to perform many tasks. Robotics today are much more capable than ever before, and we have seen some amazing advancements in the last decade alone.
We have come to understand that each part of our body contains information that can help us improve our health, live longer, and even prevent disease. We know how important nutrition is to our bodies and minds, and robotics technology is no exception. Today, medical robots can assist doctors in performing surgeries and delivering care. These devices play a big role in precision medicine, which focuses on developing treatments based on individual patients’ genetics, environment, lifestyle, culture, etc. As technology continues to advance, we may soon see robotic systems designed to deliver personalised nutrition.
Types Of Robotics
- Indoor/Outdoor Indoor/outdoor refers to how the robot works. There are two types of robots that work indoors and outdoors. One type of robot works only indoors while another type of robot can function both indoors and outdoors. A robot working only indoors will require less space than an outdoor robot.
- Battery-Powered Battery powered refers to the power source that powers the robot. Usually, battery powered means that the power comes from batteries. Batteries can be rechargeable, non-rechargeable, or some combination of each. Rechargeable batteries can be recharged using charging stations. Non-rechargeable batteries cannot be charged, so they need to be replaced periodically.
- Fixed Location Fixed location refers to where the robot’s position is fixed. In contrast to mobile robots, fixed location robots do not move around on their own. Instead, people have to program them to travel certain distances and perform specific tasks. However, fixed location robots can be programmed to move based on changes in the environment such as temperature, humidity, ambient light level, etc.
- Mobile Robots Mobile robots refer to robots that move freely and can navigate throughout an area on their own. These robots are generally controlled via remote control devices, otherwise known as “RC” controllers. People use RC controllers to direct the movement of a robot by moving a joystick back and forth. Many RC controllers allow users to turn wheels on the controller and tilt the entire device. As such, mobile robots are capable of navigating through all sorts of environments.
- Autonomous Robots An autonomous robot performs its tasks without any human intervention. An autonomous robot is the most advanced kind of robot. Rather than being controlled remotely, these robots operate under their own programming code and can accomplish complex tasks without assistance from humans.
Application Of Robotics
Robotics is the use of mechanical devices (robots) to perform tasks automatically without human intervention. Robotics is widely applied across many industries including the automotive industry, aerospace industry, healthcare industry, manufacturing industry, education sector, military, consumer electronics, agriculture among others. Robots have been extensively applied in these sectors due to their ability to reduce labor costs and increase productivity. In addition, robots do not require mandatory training and can work 24/7.In agricultural production, robotics can play a significant role in several aspects of crop production.
In fact, the global market for agricultural robotic systems was valued at $1.6 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach $4 billion by 2024. A recent study shows that automated farm equipment increased yields of major crops by 5% to 10%. These trends indicate that automation technologies are gaining momentum in the field of agriculture. To help improve the adoption rate of these technologies, the U.S. Department of Agriculture launched its Agricultural Robot Research Initiative (ARRI), which aims to create a framework for research on advanced robotics technologies in farming.The role of robotics in specific sub-sectors of agricultural production have been identified.
For example, in precision agriculture, robots can apply fertilizer and pesticides on designated fields; manage irrigation; monitor weather conditions; adjust planting dates; measure yield; and collect data, among others.
In food processing, robots take over some manual processes like slicing vegetables, cutting fruits, packaging products, etc.; clean floors; mix ingredients; and convey goods. In livestock operations, robots assist farmers with feeding, caring, moving animals, milking, and cleaning barns.
Application Of Robotics in Agriculture
Some examples of applications of industrial robotics in the agriculture sector are listed below:
- Precision Farming: Precision farming refers to the application of precision technology in agriculture. This type of technology includes unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), satellites, GPS, mobile phones, radio frequency identification (RFID), sensors, and geographic information system (GIS). Using these technologies, farmers can gain real time data about various aspects of crop performance, which helps them make informed decisions about how to best utilize their land and resources. This would result in improved economic returns and reduced water usage.
- Irrigation Management: Irrigation management refers to the use of irrigation systems to ensure optimal and consistent levels of water supply to the farmland. As mentioned earlier, precise data about soil moisture content and temperature is critical for irrigation planning. Therefore, agricultural robots can be deployed to perform routine monitoring of the environment to determine optimum watering times and amounts. Moreover, they can be used for early detection of potential flooding, water leaks, and other problems.
- Soil Monitoring: Soil erosion affects millions of acres of cropland worldwide. It happens naturally through wind and water erosion, but when left unchecked, soil erosion can cause severe damage to farms and ecosystems. Since agricultural practices like tillage and harvesting affect the quality and quantity of soil, soil monitoring is critical for maintaining proper soil structure and preventing environmental degradation. Agricultural robots can be used to continuously monitor the soil’s condition and help identify any irregularities before it becomes a problem.
- Greenhouse Automation: Crop production in greenhouses relies heavily on automation. Greenhouse automation involves the use of machines and robots to control lighting, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and irrigation of structures. Besides greenhouse automation, some other types of automation in agriculture include mechanized harvesting, tractors, and harvesters. All of these developments allow for better and more efficient crop production.
Conclusion
In this article we have discussed Application of Robotics. While the robots are able to perform simple tasks, their programming is still in its infancy. Future projects will further develop the robots’ abilities and ensure that they are able to interact with humans in a way that we want them to.
One problem is that the robots need to learn how to distinguish between different types of objects in order to complete their assigned tasks. If you like this article share it with your friends and for further query just comment below now.
