Robo-shepherd ready to be presented to the Australian farmers (Video)
SwagBot, a robot that can turn into a useful hand around a farm, is going to be presented to the public at Beef Australia 2018, from 6–12 May, by the team from the University of Sydney that created it.
In time, a robot around a farm it may be as common as an ATV thinks professor Salah Sukkarieh, the developer of the robot. "We’ve successfully field-tested it on two NSW grazing properties and by the end of our three-year project, part-funded by the MLA Donor Company, we hope to have a final prototype ready for extensive testing and operation on a farm that a producer or consultant could use", said the professor.
SwagBot is a world-leading innovation in on-farm robotics, overcoming the unique challenges of the Australian environment including extreme temperatures, dust, moisture and rough terrain. If the tests succeed, the robot can be used to muster livestock, control weeds and send pasture quality and soil moisture data to the farm computer.
"SwagBot can interface with the on-farm mapping program, Farm Map 4D, communicate and work co-operatively with drones, as well as pull a trailer and move livestock. While it can offer farm and animal surveillance at present, we’re hoping in future to develop approaches for automated monitoring of animal health as well.”, explained Salah.
(Photo source: usyd.edu.au)
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