|
 In
Lincoln Daily News’ Fall 2019 Farm Outlook Magazine, Derek Hurley
wrote about the use of drones in agriculture, which was something
relatively new at the time. To increase their production, farmers
were beginning to use more technology. Hurley said, “the next few
years might see an increase in more than just human hands and big
machines in the field.”
At that point, drones were mainly being used to take photos for data
collection. Five years later, drones have become more common in
agriculture and are being utilized for more than just data
collection.
In the August 2024, “How farmers and livestock producers are using
drones, another tool in the toolbox,” Makayla Voris said, “Drones
flying over Midwestern fields are likely to become a more typical
sight. Farmers are finding that the remotely piloted aircraft can do
everything from spraying fields to monitoring livestock.”
Among the advantages of drones
listed in Voris’ article are lower production costs, precision when
spraying and less chemical exposure.
Besides drones, some farmers are beginning to use “agriculture
robots.” In “Field to Farm: How Robots in Agriculture Revolutionize
Farming,” Klajd Lika explains what agriculture robots are and what
tasks they can do along with several ways they are changing how
farming is done.
Lika says, “Agriculture robots, or agribots, are advanced machines
designed specifically to perform various farming tasks, such as
planting seeds, watering crops, and harvesting produce.”
To give an idea of what these agribots can do, Lika says “picture
have tireless ‘farmhands’ working in your fields round-the-clock
under your command.” By “leveraging advanced technologies such as
artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and GPS navigation,
agribots can make your farming operations more streamlined and less
labor-intensive.”
Types of agribots include planting and seeding robots, weeding and
pest control robots, harvesting robots and soil analysis robots.
Some ways these robots are
“transforming” daily tasks on the farm are through monitoring soil
and crops, getting rid of weeds and picking fruits and vegetables.
An April 2024 article by the technology firm Agritecture on the role
of robots in agriculture says “these machines are classified based
on their operational roles, including but not limited to:
“Seeding: Machines that automate the sowing of seeds, ensuring
optimal depth and spacing.
“Transplanting: Machines that move plants from a dense nursery
growth stage to a more spread out growth stage.
“Harvesting: Machines designed for efficiently cutting plants from
their roots. Robots equipped with sensors and end-effectors to
identify and pick ripe produce.
“Weeding and Pest Control:
Units that use precision application of herbicides or mechanical
methods to manage weeds and pests.
“Monitoring and Scouting: Drones or ground vehicles that gather data
on crop health, moisture levels, and other critical parameters.”
After looking at all the ways agriculture robots can help with
farming, Agritecture concludes “the role of robots in agriculture,
particularly in vertical farming, is transformative. Through
enhanced precision, efficiency, and reduced labor requirements,
robotic technologies are setting new standards for productivity and
sustainability in agriculture.”
Agritecture says, “[a]s we continue to explore and expand the
capabilities of these machines, the potential for further
advancements in food production is vast, promising a future where
agriculture is more productive, less labor-intensive, and
environmentally sustainable.”
As with any technology, however, there are both advantages and
disadvantages to using drones and agribots in farming operations.
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For example, drone performance
and usage can be challenging. An article on “6 Common Challenges and
Solutions in Adopting Agriculture Drones” says, “Environmental
factors such as weather conditions can affect drone performance.
Limitations like battery life and flight range can also restrict
drone usage for large-scale farming operations.”
One solution for mitigating these problems is to buy drones with
“longer battery life and enhanced weather resistance.” Another
recommendation is to “develop contingency plans for adverse weather
conditions and consider using multiple drones to cover larger areas
efficiently.”
An article on the pros and
cons of using agrigbots says they “may not be able to perform
certain complex tasks that require human judgment or intricate
farming techniques. For example, they may struggle with tasks like
delicately pruning plants or identifying and selectively harvesting
ripe fruits.”
Another con found in the article is that “these robots lack the
flexibility to adapt to diverse farming practices or variations in
terrain…[which] limits their ability to effectively address the
specific needs of different farms and environments.”
Despite some drawbacks, both drones and agribots have the potential
to transform farming by providing efficiency.
Resources:
Agriguide. “Agribots: the Pros and Cons.” Agriguide. 2 March 2024.
https://thefarminginsider.com/
agri-robots-pros-and-cons/
Agritecture. “The Role of Robots in Agriculture.” Agritecture. 12
April 2024.
https://www.agritecture.com/
blog/exploring-the-future-of-
agriculture-a-deep-dive-into-robots
Hurley, Derek. “New Tech: Robots and drones to play a larger role in
farm production.” Lincoln Daily News. Spring 2019.
https://archives.lincolndailynews.com/
reference/farm_outlook/2019_Spring
Farm/20/index.html
Lika, Klajd. “Field to Farm: How Robots in Agriculture Revolutionize
Farming.” Bota Systems. 18 June 2024.
https://www.agritechtomorrow.com/article/
2024/06/field-to-farm-how-robots-in-
agriculture-revolutionize-farming/15585
Terra Agri. “6 Common Challenges and Solutions in Adopting
Agriculture Drones.” Terra Drone Corp. 27 June 2024.
https://terra-droneagri.com/6-common-challenges-and-solutions-in-adopting-agriculture-drones/
Voris, Makayla. How farmers and livestock producers are using
drones, another tool in the toolbox” Harvest Public Media 2 Aug.
2024
https://www.nprillinois.org/2024-08-02/drones-agriculture
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