Hands Free Hectare: The Heuristics of the first arable crop produced by robots

Abstract

• Using contemporary Global Navigation Satellite System technology, fully automated cropping cycles are achievable • Synergy of open source and commercial technology leading to rapid development time • High project impact from an open, focused and collaborative approach to ambitious research and demonstration Autonomous farming is not only attracting the attention of the scientific community, but governments globally are investing and promoting its development through different policy initiatives. The Hands Free Hectare (HFH) and Hands Free Farm (HFF) projects deployed in Shropshire, England between 2016 and 2022, are leading examples of autonomous farming in Europe over multiple seasons. The projects are often cited as evidence that the production of grains, oilseeds and other commodity crops by autonomous machines is now technically and economically feasible. At project launch in 2016 most of the components of a robotic system for arable crops were available. These projects were ambitious in their aims for rapid development to change industry and public perspectives. This paper outlines how a heuristic plan for combining those autonomy components and bridging the technology gaps was developed. To speed development the plan used modified open-source drone pilot software for guidance and retrofitting conventional farm equipment. This work describes how the probability of success of HFH was increased by simplifying the farming environment to a flat, rectangular field with conventional seed, fertilizer and pesticide applications. HFF moved toward commercial reality with multiple fields and a range of crops. Drone imagery and robotic scouting were used to support agronomic decision making. To engage stakeholders in the research process, the project team used both traditional methods (e.g. public speaking, farm shows, interviews) and social media. This communications plan created an engagement that is rare in agricultural research and it changed the worldwide perspective on crop robotics.