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Dossier
Robotics & Drones
At Wageningen University & Research, more than 60 engineers and researchers work together with industrial partners on new robotic systems for agri and food. They use their knowledge of innovative research and translate it to practical solutions.
Robots and drones play an important role in agriculture, horticulture and nature conservation. They replace the senses of farmers, and come into action with Swiss precision. With the use of a robot or other forms of Smart Farming, less energy and raw materials are required, unattractive working conditions are avoided and revenues are higher and of better quality.
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News about robotics and drones
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Maritime research is on the cusp of a computer vision breakthrough
15 April 2024 - News - Every two months, we introduce you to one of our Vision+Robotics specialists. We give an insight into the person, their research and their expectations. This time, it’s marine biologist and computer scientist Jeroen Hoekendijk: “I listen to researchers and identify which problems seem similar from a computer vision perspective, so that we can tackle them efficiently in parallel.” -
Unique interplay between knowledge of plants and robotics for innovations in precision fruit cultivation
18 March 2024 - News - The Next Fruit 4.0 project involves around 35 partners all working to advance the development of technological solutions for precision fruit cultivation. Key themes for the project include digitalisation, precision crop protection, labour optimisation, robotisation and, above all, profitability. -
Training AI with 3D fish: building blocks for fishing industry automation
21 February 2024 - News - In a few years, fishing vessels will be equipped with cameras and robots that were developed using synthetic data and machine learning. Researcher Arjan Vroegop speaks about automation in the fishing industry, game engines, Masenro 3, and how to count fish even if you can’t see them all. -
Using AI to monitor and measure biodiversity and wildlife
06 February 2024 - News - In conservation and ecology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as a powerful ally for researchers and professionals tasked with monitoring and measuring biodiversity and wildlife. Aneesh Chauhan, senior scientist computer vision and robotics for Wageningen University & Research’s Vision + Robotics programme, sheds light on the transformative role of AI, specifically computer vision and deep learning, in wildlife monitoring techniques. -
Digital orchards: capturing pruning expertise in digital twins, data, and models
18 January 2024 - News - While various researchers and companies are working on robotic picking solutions, the OnePlanet Research Center is focusing on preserving the knowledge of expert growers. As growers retire, their invaluable expertise is at risk of being lost. OnePlanet is digitising real orchards and crop management decisions, creating digital twins and models to secure pruning expertise for future generations. -
WUR Agro Food Robotics programme embarks on next phase as Vision + Robotics
13 November 2023 - News - In a strategic move to better align with the core mission and multidisciplinary expertise of the team, the Agro Food Robotics programme at Wageningen University & Research (WUR) has officially rebranded itself as 'Vision + Robotics.' -
Not all fruits are visible to a fruit picking robot
02 June 2023 - News - Selective harvesting robots now mainly use camera sensors to determine where, for example, an apple or pear hangs. But cameras don't see everything: the fruit could be hidden behind a leaf or branch, for instance. In that case, other techniques are required, such as sensors that measure pressure. The Greenhouse Horticulture and Flower Bulbs Business Unit of Wageningen University & Research and Oregon State University are investigating how information from various sensors can be merged and interpreted, and how this can be used to control the gripper of a robot. -
NXTGEN HIGHTECH program to boost Dutch agrifood-technology
11 May 2023 - News - The NXTGEN HIGHTECH program officially launched after final approval from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. With the support of the National Growth Fund, more than 330 parties from industry and knowledge institutes will work together on new high-tech machinery and production technologies to bring these developments to market. Wageningen University & Research’s Agro Food Robotics and FME, the Dutch employers' organisation for the technology industry, coordinate the agrifood domain of the program. -
Smart robots to make a salad
26 April 2023 - News - Having a robot pick a bunch of grapes requires a lot of technology. But it can be even more challenging: a robot making a complete, ready-to-eat salad. The Wageningen University & Research Agro Food Robotics programme researchers face this challenge in the coming five years. ‘It is now technologically possible.’ -
Harvesting robot for gerbera picks up speed
28 March 2023 - News - The gerbera harvesting robot has improved significantly over the past year. The end-effector (which harvests the gerbera stems) is considerably faster than before. This is mainly thanks to changes in the way the gripper descends down the stem. In addition, the robot relies less on 3D visualisations, so the processing power needed to harvest the gerberas is shortened.
Examples of projects:
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Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge 4th Edition
17 October 2023 - Project - We are doing it again! We are currently running the 4th edition of the Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge: the challenge for sustainable vegetable production with AI. This year’s crop is dwarf tomatoes. Are you passionate about sustainable greenhouse production? Are you an AI expert? Then follow us on this site and become part of our AGC Community! -
Fully Documented Fisheries (FDF)
06 October 2023 - Project - The aim of the Fully Documented Fisheries (FDF) project is to develop an autonomous video-based monitoring system to record catch, i.e. automated catch registration without interference of fishers (logbooks) or on-board observers. -
Robotics in agrifood systems
01 January 2023 - Project - This project aims to develop expertise for robot systems that use self-learning and other machine learning approaches so these systems can operate in dynamic, unstructured environments. This involves situations with many interactions between robots, humans, plants and animals. The focus of the project is on technology and the ethical and social aspects of robot innovation in real-world environments. -
Optima
01 January 2022 - Project - In the OPTIMA programme, an environmentally friendly Integrated Pest Management (IPM) framework will be developed for vineyards (mildew), apple orchards (apple scab) and root crops (leaf spot disease). -
Modelling the future of plants
01 November 2021 - Project - An ambitious new project is looking to predict and model the complex traits in fresh products that are constantly changing, using deep-learning and machine-learning approaches. The project brings together a multi-disciplinary team of Wageningen researchers from Plant Physiology, Machine-Learning, and Agro-Food Robotics, and four key international business leaders: HortiKey International BV (NL), ioCrops (KR), Tungsram Operations Kft. (HU), and Visser Horti Systems BV (NL) with its aligned partner Corvus drones (NL). -
New EU project Robs4Crops accelerates shift towards robotics
10 March 2021 - Project - From farming controllers and smart implements to fully autonomous farming systems, Robs4Crops (a new project) is helping farmers fill labour shortages — shaking up the farming landscape. -
Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge 3rd Edition
08 March 2021 - Project - Since years Wageningen University & Research is working on autonomous greenhouses, climate control, crop modelling, use of sensors, data, intelligence, computer vision and robotics. We develop new technology and new algorithms for and together with industry. You will find our solutions in many products in the sector already, maybe without recognizing it. We conduct research to understand crop physiology and product quality, we develop knowledge on climate control and plant phenotyping and are on the frontline of agrorobotics research to make new technologies useful. -
Flexible robots for intelligent automation of precision agriculture operations (FLEXIGROBOTS)
26 January 2021 - Project - Allowing the farmer to profit from robotics operational data, FlexiGroBots proposes a Platform for developing heterogeneous multi-robot systems and applications. The aim of the project is to make investing in agricultural robots profitable for farmers, by increasing flexibility in agricultural robots. -
Robotics in Livestock Farming Systems
01 January 2021 - Project - Robots will no longer be fixed to specific places. They will become mobile and work together. This means that robots will operate in environments were humans, animals, plants and other obstacles are also present. Taking care of animal welfare and human safety is an important issue in modern farming systems. Therefore Wageningen Agrofood Robotics will also focus on the robot-human-animal-plant interactions for the wellbeing of animals and humans. -
National Field Lab for Precision Farming
01 January 2021 - Project - Precision farming is a management concept giving crops, livestock and the agro-ecological environment the right treatment at the right time, place and intensity, in this way optimizing economical, ecological and social objectives by combining technology with agro-ecology. More and more, sensing, decision making and actuation will be done by AgroRobotica. This would require the technology and knowledge to be used by farmers, however, which is not sufficiently the case currently. The National Field Lab for Precision Farming (abbreviated NPPL in Dutch) aims to change this situation.