Robotic Following Cart to Replace Light Duty Tractor Tasks?

[candersen10]

There's a short video of Burro now. We're working on an attachment plan also. Would a robot that can follow to learn, then run recorded paths over and over again open up any attachments? Sprayers, etc.?

Machine is about 4HP, runs for 8 to 10 hours on swap-able batteries (20 miles or so), carries around 400-500 pounds.

 

[MossRoad]

One thing to also remember is that if field hands are anything like the dock hands that I dealt with for 30 years is that they will break it. We had a saying:

You can make it idiot proof, but you can't make it dock proof.

And it was true.

First thing they're gonna do is ride that thing. I see a huge pinch point between the tires. Someone's leg goes in there, and it's gonna be ground beef.

That touch screen and red button are gonna get hammered pretty quick. We had to keep a large stock of red buttons, because, if they weren't recessed, they'd get knocked off or at least cracked very often. If it was a stationary machine, they'd run something into the buttons and if it was a mobile machine, they'd run the buttons into something stationary.

All those cable connectors won't last, either. Even though they are underneath, they'll get whacked.

I know you're still prototyping, so those might be planned to be covered or relocated, If so, take it with a grain of salt. But anything that sticks out will be broken off, or will catch on a person's clothing. Keep at it. :thumbsup:

 

[quicksandfarmer]

I'm starting to see self-propelled utility carts with rechargeable batteries. Here's an example, I'm not sure if it's a good one, just the first I could find in a quick search:
Amazon.com : Snapper XD SXDUC82 82V Cordless Self-Propelled Utility Cart with 3.7 cu. ft. Cargo Bed : Garden & Outdoor

If you feel your core competency is the navigation software you might find you're better off developing add-on navigation for existing carts.

 

[candersen10]

I'm starting to see self-propelled utility carts with rechargeable batteries. Here's an example, I'm not sure if it's a good one, just the first I could find in a quick search:
Amazon.com : Snapper XD SXDUC82 82V Cordless Self-Propelled Utility Cart with 3.7 cu. ft. Cargo Bed : Garden & Outdoor

If you feel your core competency is the navigation software you might find you're better off developing add-on navigation for existing carts.

Thanks for the tip - it makes sense although we've found that the autonomy and the platform itself are really tied together. Its very hard to just develop one side.

 

[candersen10]

Interface explained - seem intuitive?

 

[ning]

Interface explained - seem intuitive?

Needs voice recognition, "hey Burro!"

 

[candersen10]

Needs voice recognition, "hey Burro!"

We'll keep that in mind.

Any thoughts on attachments people might want on a small robot?

Cargo, towing a mower, spraying, cultivator on the side against weeds, carrying sensors, etc. - those types of things?

We can learn a path and run it over and over again over many days.

 

[cqaigy2]

Maybe a bird repellent laser. One laser unit moved from place to place.

 

[candersen10]

Maybe a bird repellent laser. One laser unit moved from place to place.

Most commercial operators we have seen are using bird netting.

 

[MossRoad]

Most commercial operators use bird netting.

View attachment 564761

Most commercial operators of what?

We live just a few miles from southwest Michigan. Thousands of square miles of orchards, vineyards, berries, etc..... I've never seen bird netting on anything, ever. Just curious as to what crops and where?

 

[candersen10]

Most commercial operators of what?

We live just a few miles from southwest Michigan. Thousands of square miles of orchards, vineyards, berries, etc..... I've never seen bird netting on anything, ever. Just curious as to what crops and where?

Most that we have observed, when they have significant bird pressure, put up bird netting. Blueberries, caneberries, table grapes, table top strawberries are what I'm referring to.

On my family farm, we put up bird netting. At times we use the inflatable tube men also.

Are people using bird lasers anywhere? things like this common anywhere: Agrilaser Handheld: The ultimate solution to bird nuisance

 

[MossRoad]

Interesting. Thanks.

 

[cqaigy2]

Most commercial operators we have seen are using bird netting.

View attachment 564761

I saw this article the other day, OSU doing study on blueberry fields.

Agrilaser Autonomic in a 1-acre organic blueberry research field at Oregon

 

[JohnBuffaloMN]

Good stuff! Thank you for sharing here. Have you gotten any quotes for product liability insurance? Someone mentioned that earlier and I suspect "self driving" could be a challenge in that realm, particularly in consumer applications.

Someone mentioned spraying fruit crops before a freeze.

I thought spraying toxic chemicals sans operator would be great for those in the bug control business - or automation in lawn mowers for mowing companies. Help others avoid higher insurance costs and lower their staffing costs. Have an operator spray the first time, then just stop and deploy the bot while prepping for the next lot...

Best of luck! Seems almost every time I have a brilliant idea someone else has thought of it

My latest idea... SECRET.

 

[candersen10]

Would people have more interest in something like Burro if it could also power/run/pull BCS implements autonomously?

 

[aczlan]

Would people have more interest in something like Burro if it could also power/run/pull BCS implements autonomously?

Possibly, but it seems like it would take a lot of batteries to equal a tank of fuel to power a BCS implement.

Aaron Z

 

[candersen10]

Possibly, but it seems like it would take a lot of batteries to equal a tank of fuel to power a BCS implement.

Aaron Z

We've thought we'd just add a gas engine to power implements and top off batteries. Drivetrain would remain electric but implements would be gas powered.

 

[daugen]

BCS Attachments and Implements | Texas BCS

not much there I'd consider safe leaving unattended. Leaving gasoline engines unattended while bouncing around
with ground engaging tools also would make me worry. Sometimes you need to turn equipment off in a hurry.
I understand your wanting to this be a multipurpose platform.

 

[candersen10]

BCS Attachments and Implements | Texas BCS

not much there I'd consider safe leaving unattended. Leaving gasoline engines unattended while bouncing around
with ground engaging tools also would make me worry. Sometimes you need to turn equipment off in a hurry.
I understand your wanting to this be a multipurpose platform.

Even a mower?

 

[daugen]

Even a mower?

Others have done it. I'm a retired insurance company underwriter. I would imagine the product liability
insurance for manufacturing unattended mowing equipment might be a major impediment to you.
What you make for your farm is your business. What you sell to others for a profit is like apples and oranges.
Don't make something you can't get insured, that's all. Might be a speedbump, might be a mountain.
If I were underwriting your little venture, I would sure want to see safe operation out in the field for several years before
I felt comfortable insuring machinery that statistically kills more than a few people each year.

Insurance companies love proven designs, they can track claim history.
New designs are a challenge. And while everyone knows this kind of technology is our future,
insurance companies always look to past history, not future possibilities. Without statistics and actuaries signing off,
pretty hard to get insured. It's just the way it works.