Strategic Investment in Farm Robotics (SIFR)

2017-10-24T21:09:50+00:00

This project is fast-tracking robotic technology for farms. Its purpose is to reinvigorate agriculture through increased production and reduced costs. Such technology can be used to conduct autonomous multi-vehicle operations in applications of weed management, fertilising, and seeding. The use of multiple, cost-effective field robots can enable alternative weed destruction methods such as mechanical, thermal or chemical. It can also enable autonomous methods for picking fruit and vegetables. The Strategic [...]

Spherical Continuous Isotropic Omni Drive Robot

2017-10-24T21:09:52+00:00

Robots comprised of an omni directional drive system have a distinct kinematic and mobility advantage over the standard differential drive and Ackermann (car-like) drive. In this project we designed an omni directional drive robot with very high mobility that can negotiate typical edge and gap traversal obstacles in an indoor environment. It is based on a novel spherical drive mechanism which has the advantage of continuous contact with the ground plane to reduce [...]