GPS guided farm mapping and waypoint tracking mobile robotic system

Abstract

With the rapid development of automated farm facilities such as auto-weather report, crops growing monitoring, soil testing, animal health tracking, milking etc. a future-focused autonomous real time farm environment monitoring mobile robot platform is in need. Such a system will provide a base for integrating automated farm tools and facilities and maximize the use of modern farm technologies. This research developed an economic GPS guided farm mobile system with the vision for future system expansion. A physical testing model has been built that consists of four major units, i.e. navigation system, communication unit, control system, and mechanical platform. These four units have been successfully integrated as a GPS guided farm mobile robotic system that is capable of mapping and re-tracking field boundaries. It can also be taught by moving the robot around the farm or the perimeter of a paddock to learn the size and shape and gain the environment information for the robot to perform its tasks in later stage. The system provides potentials for further development that could bring more significant contributions to intelligent farming machines and agricultural automation.