Dutch companies and knowledge institutions develop smart agricultural robots

A consortium of companies and knowledge institutions from the Northern Netherlands, led by research institute TNO, is focusing on the development, delivery, and use of agrobots in agriculture and horticulture. The prototypes will be ready by 2027. The project receives € 2.8 million in financial support from the European Commission.

The members of the consortium at the kickoff of the DigiAgro project. ‘Agrobots’ refer to autonomous systems for use in agriculture and horticulture. These can be full-fledged robots or autonomous implements used behind a tractor. The transition to nature-friendly circular agriculture with agrobots is not only intended to make agriculture more efficient but also to ensure that farmers can continue to earn money sustainably, taking into account all developments in the labor market.

Four prototypes

This collaboration (DigiAgro3) focuses on developing technological building blocks and system integration for agrobots. Ultimately, the consortium aims to gain new knowledge in four technologies (soft grippers, vision technology, AI software & digital twinning, and advanced control) and develop and test four prototypes for agriculture and horticulture. The prototypes will focus on disease recognition in potatoes, weed control, fruit picking, and monitoring crop growth.

Consortium

The development of agrobots is a complex challenge that requires collaboration in an open innovation model. The consortium behind the project consists of seven Dutch companies (ABDrone, Batenburg Beenen, Demcon, GroeNoord BV, Smart Agri Technology/Croptimal, and Track 32) and five Dutch knowledge institutions (Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen, NHL Stenden, Saxion, University of Groningen, and TNO).

The companies involved in the consortium cover the entire chain, from development and production to the delivery of agrobots. The knowledge institutions contribute with their specific expertise in technological innovations for agrobots.

In addition to being the project leader, TNO is responsible for bringing together research data in the digital twin lab. The goal of the project is to facilitate effective collaboration among the various participants and thereby expand the economic opportunities for technological innovation to other parties in the ecosystem.