H2020 SCORPION Project: Cost-effective robots for intelligent precision spraying

Type Project
Status Filled
Execution 2021 -2023
Assigned Budget 2.501.104,83 €
Scope Europeo
Autonomous community Cataluña; Madrid, Comunidad de
Main source of financing Horizon 2020
Project website https://scorpion-h2020.eu/

Description

With robotic technologies advancing at breakneck speeds, many industrial sectors are eager to welcome them. One of these is agriculture, which faces the problem of phytopharmaceutical spraying and the need to reduce overuse while maintaining crop efficiency and yield. The EU-funded SCORPION project will address many of the challenges involved in developing a modular unmanned tractor in cooperation with several agricultural and robotics associations, institutions, and companies. The goal is to reduce the use of phytopharmaceuticals while maintaining crop yield, efficiency, and value.

This machine will initially focus on steep vineyards that present more difficult spraying. SCORPION will increase the TRL of the technologies involved from 5 to 7. This increase is driven by five main RTD themes: localization and navigation systems (taking into account EGNSS); advanced spraying tool with variable rate technology (VRT); safety systems; compliance and interoperability; and modularity. SCORPION will contribute to building its market segment aligned with the European Strategic Agenda for Robotics and creating new business opportunities, as well as reducing fertilizer use in agriculture and improving air quality. SCORPION is launching a cost-effective modular robot for high-precision spraying in permanent crops, integrating three main modules: an autonomous tractor (<50 hp), a high-precision sprayer with innovative UV light treatments, and an advanced outdoor detection system. These modules can be marketed independently or as the SCORPION robot.

Description of activities

During the reporting period, the SCORPION consortium carried out two integration periods in real vineyards. The latest integration involved a robot equipped with a precision sprayer capable of applying the preset value (obtained from a prescription map) and adjusting the preset value in real time according to the vineyard's actual leaf area, thereby reducing losses during spraying operations.

WP1 has defined the overall robotic architecture and defined the requirements for the SCORPION prototypes.
In WP2, we developed a "conventional" precision sprayer compatible with a tractor and AgRob V18, featuring advanced perception systems and Variable Rate Technologies (VRT) and ISOBUS. This WP also marked the beginning of development of the new fully electric sprayer.
During WP3, development of the new GNSS receiver began and several laboratory tests were performed. Several SLAM approaches were studied and tested during this WP. The VIneSLAM and AgRobPP packages were developed under ROS2 and tested during the pilot/integration days.
In WP4 we had analyzed the source code developed in WP3 and developed the mission controllers and supervisors.
At WP5, the AgRobV18 was assembled with the sprayer developed during WP2 and with the WP3 and WP4 solutions, which were tested during the 2nd SCORPION integration days. To increase the impact of SCORPION, a fully electric robot was designed and assembled and will be proposed during the upcoming integration days.
During WP6, the website was published and several communication and dissemination activities were carried out, such as participation in FIRA 2021 and EIMA, and participation in the IF Award with WETA design (where WETA won the design award). Seven scientific articles were published, and more than 15 actions were carried out to communicate the project to a wider audience.
In WP7 we have begun developing the exploitation plan for the end of the project.

Contextual description

Spraying in agriculture represents a social challenge due to its negative impact on human and animal health and the environment. Increasing spraying efficiency toward the goal of "right time, right amount, right place" implies reducing losses and, consequently, the amount of phytopharmaceuticals used, water use, and human and animal exposure to pesticides, and increasing the availability of the spraying system while reducing labor costs.

Furthermore, the adoption of new, environmentally friendly spraying treatments is desirable to increase both yield and treatment efficiency. Farming in hilly terrain is also challenging, due to the uneven terrain, lack of maneuvering space, communication difficulties due to natural obstacles, and the associated harsh weather conditions.

To address these challenges, a consortium of complementary precision agriculture stakeholders was formed for the SCORPION project, bringing together steep-slope vineyard associations (CERVIM, INNOVI), robotics and agricultural machinery RTD institutions (INESC, EUT, IMAMOTER, WUR), SMEs and large companies (TEYME, Deimos, SPI), and an institution dedicated to innovation in the sector (IPN). The SCORPION solution will be a safe and autonomous precision spraying tool integrated into a modular unmanned tractor (robotic platform).

It will focus on steep vineyards but with an impact on other high-value permanent crops (olive and fruit growing). SCORPION will utilize the Global Navigation Satellite System (EGNSS) receiver (triple-frequency, PPP, OS-NMA, HAS) combined with other sensors to increase the solution's reliability, accuracy, and safety, and to enable autonomous UV light treatments (partially eliminating the need for phytopharmaceuticals) and high-precision spraying in permanent crops. SCORPION will increase the TRL of the technologies involved from 5 to 7, resulting in a modular spraying robot. These four modules can be explored independently or together.

Objectives

Spraying in agriculture represents a social challenge due to its negative impact on human and animal health, as well as on the environment. Increasing spraying efficiency to achieve the "right time, right amount, right place" objective involves reducing losses and, consequently, the amount of phytopharmaceuticals used, water consumption, and human and animal exposure to pesticides. It also increases spraying system availability while reducing labor costs. Furthermore, the adoption of new, environmentally friendly spraying treatments is desirable to increase both yield and treatment efficiency.

Farming on rough terrain also presents challenges, due to the slope of some land, the lack of room for maneuver, communication difficulties due to natural obstacles, and the associated harsh weather conditions. To address these challenges, a consortium of complementary precision agriculture stakeholders was formed for the SCORPION project, bringing together steep vineyard associations (CERVIM, INNOVI), R&D institutions in robotics and agricultural machinery (INESC, EUT, IMAMOTER, WUR), SMEs and large companies (TEYME, Deimos, SPI), and an institution dedicated to innovation in the sector (IPN). The SCORPION solution will consist of a safe and autonomous precision spraying tool integrated into a modular unmanned tractor (robotic platform).

It will focus on vineyards on steep slopes, but with an impact on other high-value permanent crops (olive groves and fruit growing). SCORPION will incorporate a Global Navigation Satellite System (EGNSS) receiver (triple-frequency, PPP, OS-NMA, HAS) integrated with other sensors to increase the solution's reliability, accuracy, and safety, as well as to enable autonomous UV light treatments (partially eliminating the need for phytopharmaceuticals) and high-precision spraying in permanent crops. SCORPION will expand the scope of the technologies involved from five to seven and create a modular spraying robot. These four modules can be explored independently or together.

Results

The EU is the world's largest producer, consumer, and exporter of wine, contributing 50% of global wine production. Most vineyards are very small. Furthermore, around 10% of European vineyards are "steep slope" vineyards. These small vineyards, in mountainous and remote locations, are renowned for their high-quality, premium wines that play a crucial role in rural economies. However, their unique needs are relatively neglected by traditional machinery manufacturers due to the small market size. This is changing with an award-winning spraying robot developed by the company SCORPION and unveiled at the prestigious World Forum on Agricultural Robotics 2023 and 2024 (FIRA 2023 and FIRA 2024).

A Modular Solution of Autonomous Technologies for Precision Agriculture The use of agricultural robots in rugged and remote terrain is particularly challenging. SCORPION has developed a suite of advanced modular robotic technologies designed to meet the needs of precision agriculture in mountainous regions and integrated them into the WETA spraying robot. According to project coordinator Filipe Neves dos Santos of INESC TEC: "The high-precision spraying tool interprets georeferenced 'prescription maps' constructed by decision support systems taking into account historical field data, such as soil nutrient levels and historical yields. It uses variable rate technology (VRT) to adjust spraying to plant size and health. Pulse-width modulation and an electric fan allow for almost no spray loss and ten times greater energy efficiency than traditional spraying methods." Additionally, the robot can be switched from spraying to UV light application in less than 10 minutes, and the user can interface with the robot using an Android smartphone connected to INESC TEC's robotic navigation system.

The fully electric WETA robotic platform ensures four-wheel drive even on the most challenging rocky and sloping terrain. Its turning radius of less than 20 centimeters and slim profile of less than one meter wide allow it to handle densely planted crops without soil compaction. Finally, the robotic navigation system enables complete localization and real-time route planning. Both this system and the spraying tool can be seamlessly integrated into any tractor or robotic platform for a fully autonomous spraying system.

Advanced perception and localization technologies The WETA agricultural robot, robotic navigation system, and VRT are equipped with the latest technology, enabling a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver to work with all Galileo services. This ensures they operate optimally with real-time data 24/7, even in remote areas without mobile network coverage. In environments with adequate mobile reception, the systems switch to real-time kinematic mode to improve localization accuracy and provide redundancy. Its state-of-the-art perception system includes Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and cameras. The robotic navigation system also has an inertial navigation system and takes into account visible features in the natural landscape for accurate and reliable 3D localization when it detects GNSS anomalies or interference.

A new era in precision farming The WETA agricultural robot offers unparalleled precision, reliability, and safety in open field operations. “The SCORPION robot is at the forefront of agricultural technology, with its unique ability to autonomously analyze a prescription map obtained from a decision support system in a sequence of executable tasks culminating in the application of precision spraying in the field. This capability guarantees true field autonomy,” notes Neves dos Santos. Not only will it improve sustainability and promote eco-friendly practices in vineyard management, but it will also facilitate expansion into untapped mountainous regions of immense potential, fostering the growth of local economies. SCORPION is paving the way for a new era of precision farming and smart agriculture.

Coordinators

INESC TEC - INSTITUTO DE ENGENHARIADE SISTEMAS E COMPUTADORES, TECNOLOGIA E CIENCIA

Collaborators

INSTITUTO PEDRO NUNES ASSOCIACAO PARA A INOVACAO E DESENVOLVIMENTO EM CIENCIA E TECNOLOGIA
ASSOCIACIO AEI INNOVI (AGRUPACIO EMPRESARIAL INNOVADORA)
SOCIEDADE PORTUGUESA DE INOVACAO CONSULTADORIA EMPRESARIAL E FOMENTO DA INOVACAO SA
CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE
CERVIM
FUNDACIO EURECAT
TEYME TECHNOLOGIE AGRICOLA SL
STICHTING WAGENINGEN RESEARCH
DEIMOS SPACE SOCIEDAD LIMITADA UNIPERSONAL

Other links

H2020 SCORPION Project: Cost-effective robots for intelligent precision spraying

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