Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SWARM (Cultivate crops with a fleet of electric agroecological robots that preserve the soils)
Berichtszeitraum: 2022-05-01 bis 2023-04-30
A growing portion of cultivated soils is suffering from severe compaction as a result of an intensive use of heavy thermal tractors. And yet, there is no alternative to these tractors, and no other solution can deliver the same level of productivity whilst avoiding compaction and massive CO2 emissions. Consequently, soil productivity is declining threatening food production in the long term.
SABI AGRI, a fast-growing agroecological robotics company, aims to ensure the implementation of sustainable farming by transforming agricultural machinery with its high-performance electric tractors and robots in alternative to thermal tractors.
Especially with the SWARM project, SABI AGRI is developing a collaborative fleet of agroecological vehicles where an ALPO electric tractor and its ZILUS autonomous robots work together. This fleet named SWARM allow to multiply work capacity whilst being versatile, cost-effective and alleviating the ground pressure and being CO2 emission free.
SABI AGRI, a fast-growing agroecological robotics company, aims to ensure the implementation of sustainable farming by transforming agricultural machinery with its high-performance electric tractors and robots in alternative to thermal tractors.
Especially with the SWARM project, SABI AGRI is developing a collaborative fleet of agroecological vehicles where an ALPO electric tractor and its ZILUS autonomous robots work together. This fleet named SWARM allow to multiply work capacity whilst being versatile, cost-effective and alleviating the ground pressure and being CO2 emission free.
During the first year of the project, the technical and scientific work focused on hardware, software and human machine interface (HMI) development.
First, a modular architecture for ZILUS robot was designed and adaptations were performed on the ALPO electric tractor. These machines constitute the agricultural fleet.
Second, robotics algorithms ensuring safety and robustness of behaviours have been developed and tested in real conditions. These developments allow the fleet to be intelligent and collaborative.
Third, a software architecture was built to ensure the collect, the storage, and the post processing of data. These HMI developments allow to manage its robot fleet and agronomic activity.
First, a modular architecture for ZILUS robot was designed and adaptations were performed on the ALPO electric tractor. These machines constitute the agricultural fleet.
Second, robotics algorithms ensuring safety and robustness of behaviours have been developed and tested in real conditions. These developments allow the fleet to be intelligent and collaborative.
Third, a software architecture was built to ensure the collect, the storage, and the post processing of data. These HMI developments allow to manage its robot fleet and agronomic activity.
Regulatory framework has been initiated and a communication campaign was launched to reach the final users and support the international commercialisation.
First, the technological developments are in line with current EU standard linked with a permanent watch on the evolution.
Second, field demonstrations were performed for distributors to show the capabilities of the innovation. EU-wide distributors are ready to market it.
Third, innovative farmers were found to test the innovation in their farms. It will allow to improve the development and perform an impact study to improve the first estimates of SWARM benefits.
The work will be continued during the second year of the project and will lead to the international marketing of the first agroecological equipment for field crops.
First, the technological developments are in line with current EU standard linked with a permanent watch on the evolution.
Second, field demonstrations were performed for distributors to show the capabilities of the innovation. EU-wide distributors are ready to market it.
Third, innovative farmers were found to test the innovation in their farms. It will allow to improve the development and perform an impact study to improve the first estimates of SWARM benefits.
The work will be continued during the second year of the project and will lead to the international marketing of the first agroecological equipment for field crops.