Hands Free Hectare Project made complete automation in agriculture a reality

Farming is a human-intensive sector. It is not simple like throwing seeds and harvesting the yield. It’s a complicated process which involves close monitoring
and supervision and appropriate, timely actions based on the condition of the crops in the field. It’s a huge challenge to make farming fully automated one, though it involves a series of repetitive tasks.

For the world’s first time, Harper Adams University engineering staff members and farming specialists of Precision Decisions Ltd, have attempted and succeeded in growing and harvesting a hectare of barley exclusively with autonomous robotic vehicles and drones which means all without even stepping a foot into the field.

Preparing for the Mission
This project was launched in October 2016 and named as “Hands Free Hectare”. The team started the work by selecting the key autonomous machinery and tractors. They went on to create a prototype of an automation system and test the same on an electric all-terrain vehicle in the field. With this test, they proved that the vehicle could be driven up and down in a straight line. Then, they have incorporated the automation system into the tractor which does drilling and spraying.

On the Field....

Autonomous Drilling Vehicle

By June 2017, everything is set for automated farming. Tractor using a GPS controlled precision sprayer completed the pre-seeding herbicide application. An autonomous tractor navigated the entire field, drilled holes at equal intervals and sown the spring barley seeds. The drilling operation took six long hours. Fungicides and herbicides were applied to tackle a few weeds and micronutrients were applied to aid crop growth using a sprayer. At regular time intervals, the experts examined the plant samples and ensured the successful progress of the mission. The plant samples were collected by a robotic scout which drove into the field at fixed set points, scooped out the soil and also plants. Drones were used to capture videos which were examined for weeds and disease levels in crops.

Autonomous Harvester

The wait is over.
Three months later, by August 2017, the barley crops were harvested successfully and of course autonomously. The total yield was 4.5 metric tons per hectare, which is less than the predicted 5 metric tons per hectare.

The Hands Free Hectare team is already looking forward to repeating the same task, but with a winter crop. Now, agriculture is also marching towards complete automation!


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