Moisture measurement in crops using spherical robots

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a new low‐cost system based on a spherical robot for performing moisture monitoring in precision agriculture.

Design/methodology/approach

The work arose from the necessity of providing farmers with alternative methods for crop monitoring. Thus, after analysing the main requirements, a spherical robot was chosen as a tentative approach. The presented work summarizes the work carried out in selecting the basics to apply in the robot, as well as its mechanical and electronic design. After designing and constructing the robot, several tests have been performed, in order to validate the robot for performing monitoring task and moving on different types of soil.

Findings

The performed tests reveal that spherical robot is a suitable solution for performing the task.

Research limitations/implications

Some improvements in control should be applied in order to reach a fully autonomous navigation in very slippery soils. Nevertheless, the performance of the robot in teleoperated mode allows validating of the system.

Practical implications

The robot turned out to be friendly and harmless in its use for this application. The cost of final series will be affordable in comparison with the cost of other methods. Endurance of the robot can be considered as fair.

Originality/value

The paper presents a new tool for farming based on non‐common robot.

Citation

Hernández, J.D., Barrientos, J., del Cerro, J., Barrientos, A. and Sanz, D. (2013), "Moisture measurement in crops using spherical robots", Industrial Robot, Vol. 40 No. 1, pp. 59-66. https://doi.org/10.1108/01439911311294255