Robotic Following Cart to Replace Light Duty Tractor Tasks?

[candersen10]

Getting user feedback that we need some sounds for our robot. Specifically, sounds for:

- robot in motion
- robot with someone in the way
- someone moving too fast away from a robot and robot wanting them to slow down
- robot waiting and awake but not doing anything

Any ideas? Seems like everything to date in ag is back up alarms and beeps.

 

[MossRoad]

I'd suggest the cuss pack from the game redneck rampage.

OK, maybe not.

 

[daugen]

Honda’s Autonomous ATV Is Really Cool—and a Little Creepy | Automobile Magazine

note reference to agricultural operations and follow me mode

 

[MossRoad]

Honda’s Autonomous ATV Is Really Cool—and a Little Creepy | Automobile Magazine

note reference to agricultural operations and follow me mode

Coupled with Honda's marketing machine....

I wonder about prices.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

This year's Consumer Electronics Show had a powered suitcase that follows you through the airport:
Ovis: 1st AI-Powered Suitcase Following by Side | Indiegogo

MSRP around $800.

 

[daugen]

This year's Consumer Electronics Show had a powered suitcase that follows you through the airport:
Ovis: 1st AI-Powered Suitcase Following by Side | Indiegogo

MSRP around $800.

I guess for the person who has everything...
I'd like to see that thing go up or down an airport escalator..

 

[MossRoad]

TSA Agent:
Have you had your bag in your possession at all times?

Self driving luggage guy:
It followed me through the airport.

TSA Agent:
Could you see it while it was behind you?

Self driving luggage guy:
I guess not.

TSA Agent:
Please go into that room for an "enhanced" search.

 

[cqaigy2]

TSA Agent:
Have you had your bag in your possession at all times?

Self driving luggage guy:
It followed me through the airport.

TSA Agent:
Could you see it while it was behind you?

Self driving luggage guy:
I guess not.

TSA Agent:
Please go into that room for an "enhanced" search.

Those cost extra in some parts.

 

[daugen]

Robot Check

follow me golf bags.
Note reference to bluetooth tech involving follow me.

this is surely becoming more common.

 

[candersen10]

Robot Check

follow me golf bags.
Note reference to bluetooth tech involving follow me.

this is surely becoming more common.

The aspect of following a person autonomously is one aspect of our robot, but quite different it seems then the consumer-grade following equipment that is around in some areas. Our robots follow people by virtue of recognizing them and tracking them - in a field with 100 people working our robots can work with each person without needing each to have a bluetooth beacon. Beacons are a hardware solution to a software problem and have been around since the 1970s for people-following golf bags at least.

Today, we have a 4-5HP robot with 500 lbs of capacity, computer vision based autonomy enabling it to follow people, learn routes/re-run them autonomously, and to run up/down rows autonomously by virtue of recognizing them (Burro Following Rows - YouTube). Our robot is also farm rugged - weatherproof, designed to work in field, etc.

I believe this is how autonomous farming begins - collaborative robots that help people work more productively while being modular-ly expandable to do more and more tasks autonomously.

 

[daugen]

It's very satisfying to see you continuously improve your robotic cart.
I don't play golf so never knew it was active there, but it seems I may be met by a little robot
at the airport some day:
How AI is making business travel better - CNN

 

[candersen10]

Would anyone here want something that could autonomously spray? If yes, what sorts of applications?

 

[TheMadOne]

Would anyone here want something that could autonomously spray? If yes, what sorts of applications?

View attachment 589231

Targeting weeds in hay fields is the first thing that jumped into my brain. Horse people would pay a lot of money to ensure the quality and safety of their feed.

 

[daugen]

I pull a gas powered sprayer behind my garden tractor to do my fruit orchard, about 25 trees, and invariably I got a blast of spray
on me when the wind goes the wrong way. Most of my spray is dormant oil and neem oil and other things nontoxic, but standard fruit tree spray requires a mask.

Filling that gizmo up with spray and sending it on down the line might be nice, but my trees aren't uniform. I'm sure you need uniform tree/crop
placement for this to work based on sophistication of radar. It would have to turn on and off a lot.

Now...if I could put liquid fertilizer in it and send it on down my long rows of potatoes, now you've got my interest.
Easier than sidedressing with a tractor, though that's why I have a Super A.

 

[candersen10]

I pull a gas powered sprayer behind my garden tractor to do my fruit orchard, about 25 trees, and invariably I got a blast of spray
on me when the wind goes the wrong way. Most of my spray is dormant oil and neem oil and other things nontoxic, but standard fruit tree spray requires a mask.

Filling that gizmo up with spray and sending it on down the line might be nice, but my trees aren't uniform. I'm sure you need uniform tree/crop
placement for this to work based on sophistication of radar. It would have to turn on and off a lot.

Now...if I could put liquid fertilizer in it and send it on down my long rows of potatoes, now you've got my interest.
Easier than sidedressing with a tractor, though that's why I have a Super A.

We have autonomous row following (Burro Following Rows - YouTube) so this is doable. Suspect in big commercial operations they are doing that with a self propelled sprayer though?

 

[TheMadOne]

We have autonomous row following (Burro Following Rows - YouTube) so this is doable. Suspect in big commercial operations they are doing that with a self propelled sprayer though?

Most self propelled sprayers are strictly for topdressing. A few orchard models exist, but most big commercial orchards use pull-type cyclone sprayers and cab tractors.

 

[candersen10]

Most self propelled sprayers are strictly for topdressing. A few orchard models exist, but most big commercial orchards use pull-type cyclone sprayers and cab tractors.

In potatoes would think if people side-dress they'd use a front boom sprayer with side dressing attachment?

 

[daugen]

In potatoes would think if people side-dress they'd use a front boom sprayer with side dressing attachment?

pun intended, I'm small potatoes and don't have that kind of equipment.
Makes sense, so you can see what you are doing.

 

[candersen10]

Burro works as an outdoor autonomous tow tractor. Any applications come to mind with something like this capability?

 

[daugen]

Very impressive, am assuming you did this through a memory function; i.e. follow me once and them memorize this route?

Liked fact dog did not confuse it though I wonder how it would halt/brake that line of carts in a must stop now situation.
What kind of tires are you running on it now?

Could one go pick up and retrieve parking lot shopping carts ?