Automation and autonomy are hot topics when it comes to sustainable farming techniques, and some equipment manufacturers are at the forefront of developments. The research and advanced engineering department of agricultural engineering manufacturer AGCO/Fendt, for example, has been working on swarm technology and innovative robotics.
According to an article by the manufacturer, manual work that today requires large numbers of laborers toiling on the land will certainly be automated in the future.
“This will eliminate the burden of monotonous work and pave the way for more sustainably produced foods,” AGCO states.
THE SMALLEST OF SEEDERS
The latest generation of the Fendt Xaver is equipped with a seed unit developed by Precision Planting, an AGCO subsidiary.
“Through Precision Planting, we’ve been able to draw on the AGCO Group’s agronomy expertise and proven technology to produce our seed-sowing robots,” says Dr. Benno Pichlmaier, AGCO’s director of global technology and innovation. “We adapted the modules of the first Xaver generation and combined them with the new seed unit. Proven concepts have been combined with the innovative robotics design, which has led to a new, integrated system.”
The vSet® solution spaces the seed rapidly and with utmost precision. An electrically driven control system deposits individual grains with centimeter-accuracy at a predefined distance in the row. The grains are dropped in the furrow by a flexible firmer.
The new Xaver has three wheels, with the last one driving the robot and acting as a gauge wheel. As it passes over, it compacts the soil gently to the side and above the seed, closing the soil around the grain to ensure moisture supply and initiate germination.
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SUMMERTIME SALADS
These salads are a celebration of summer, and are perfect to have on their own or as a side. They are also easy to make and super affordable. Bon appétit!
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Backgrounding Beef Animals For Higher Profit
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Economic Outlook 2021: Now Is The Time To Build Reserves
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It has been a bad week for robots in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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Can Technology Truly Deliver On The Business Front?
That technology will increasingly become an indispensable part of retail operations and experience is a no-brainer. But what does it really mean for the retail business, especially at a time when a global pandemic has ushered in never before economic challenges and caused further squeeze on margins? Well, contrary to what one might imagine, investing in cutting edge technologies in retail, particularly front-end retail, is not about having futuristic, jazzy and cool stuff inside the stores. On the other hand it’s about being well integrated across all aspects - the store layout and design, VM, lighting, fit-outs, staff performance, inventory, customer interactions and the overall store operations. And all this in a manner that delivers a smooth and seamless shopper experience leading to higher store stickiness and sales. It also means allocating budgets and resources in a way that technology becomes an integral part of all the business processes. Here’s a look.