ETAROB tool carrier to outperform all systems out there

ETAROB is characterised as a tool carrier with a focus on agricultural tooling and, for starters, spot spraying, selective fertilisation or irrigation and selective electro-physical weeding, and in a later stage, the harvesting of (iceberg) lettuce. The concept itself is based on almost 10 years of research in robotics at the MASCOR institute for mobile autonomous systems and cognitive robotics.

ETAROB at the Agritechnica exhibition a year ago. Earlier that year, the project was awarded third place at the Robotics Award by Hannover Messe in April 2019 in Germany. Photo: René Koerhuis

Josef Franko, co-inventor from AI.Land: “I strongly believe, that multi-purpose machinery is the only way to be economically efficient. Higher level software and algorithms enable ETAROB to develop into an intelligent system to exceed today’s field robot capabilities in situations of uncertainty.

We are combining the different strengths of multimodal sensors for mobile navigation, safety, as well as plant detection.”

For mechanical weeding, the robot currently relies on brushes but it will be complimented with electro-physical weeding in 2021 in cooperation with the Crop.Zone company, also from Aachen, Germany. Photo: René Koerhuis

Not relying on RTK-gps

Where many agricultural and outdoor robots and autonomous vehicles rely on RTK-gps to navigate because of its availability and robustness, robot ETAROB does not. AI.Land has chosen to use sensor fusion algorithms to enrich the position information with inertia measurement (IMU), a compass, odometry (i.e. the use of data from motion sensors to estimate change in position over time) and optical tracking. For plant detection, it relies on different optical sensors combined with a unique training approach to deep convolutional networks (DCNN’s). Furthermore, Franko says, “our safety system is redundant due to thermal imaging, as well as LiDAR and camera.”

ETAROB can perform several tasks

Modular ETAROB features 2 tool slots and can perform several tasks. For spot spraying, an array of electrically controlled nozzles is used along with up to 2 400-litre tanks. The mechanical weeding currently relies on brushes that will be complimented with electro-physical weeding in 2021 in cooperation with the Crop.Zone company (also from Aachen, Germany). Also, lab testing is underway for harvesting iceberg lettuce.

Modular ETAROB features 2 tool slots and can perform several tasks. The track width can be changed to match various crops and conditions. The modularity includes the ability to share several core modules with other manufacturers. Photo: AI.Land

The current 4^th generation robot has a hybrid (diesel-electric) drive to operate 24/7 and the 4-wheel steering gives the 950 kg vehicle its good manoeuvrability. The modularity includes the ability to share several core modules with other field robot manufacturers in future. “Because openness for collaboration towards sustainable agriculture is key,” Josef Franko concludes.