Introduction
Preface
Chapter 1: Agricultural Robots Help Farmers Feed the World
1. Farm Machinery Must Support Sustainable Agriculture
2. The Impacts of the Global Food Crisis
3. Holistic Solutions are the Product of Innovation and Education
4. Global Problems Require a Collaborative Approach
5. The Path to Adoption for Agricultural Robotics
6. Advancing Technology Suppliers Can Support Adoption
7. Agricultural Robots Benefit Farmers and the World
Chapter 2: Successful Robot Adoption Depends on Reliability, Security and Trust
8. The Ag Industry Already Loves Technology
9. Robot Bashing is an Opportunity
10. Farmers, End Consumers Have High Expectations
11. Robots Must Be Reliable, Valuable and User-Friendly
12. Tech Companies Must Build Trust Through Responsible Practices and Customer Support
13. There’s a Lot of Potential and a Lot More Work to Do
Chapter 3: Farming with No Tractor Driver, is it Possible?
14. Civil Liability, Time Machines and the Case for Insurance
15. Safety, Security and the Journey to Market
16. It's Possible if Farmers Can Rely on the Machines
17. It’s Possible if Robot Manufacturers Can Deliver Proper Training
18. It's Possible if the Technology is Robust
19. It’s Possible if the Driverless Tractors Demonstrate Success
Chapter 4: Safe Positioning and Image Analysis
20. The Importance of Accurate Safe Positioning
21. The Importance of Signal Reliability
22. The Importance of Deep Learning
23. The Importance of Improving Computer Vision
24. The Importance of Continual Improvement
Chapter 5: From Lab to Success Story: What Business Model?
25. The Key Technology Trends in Agricultural Robotics
26. What Makes a Successful Robotics Development and Business Model?
27. Startups and Investors: How to Partner Effectively
27.1. Trust
27.2. Communication
27.3. Shared Values
27.4. A Good Contract
27.5. A Shared Vision
Conclusions
Robot Manufacturers’ Information Sheets
Autonomous Sprayer, by Automato Robotics
AutoPicker, by TerraClear Inc.
AVO, by ecoRobotix
Bakus, by VitiBot
BIPBIP, presented by CTIFL
CEOL, by Agreenculture
ChickenBoy, by Faromatics
Dino, by Naïo Technologies
ERMMI™, by Easton Robotics
FAR, by Tevel Aerobotics Technologies
FD20, by FarmDroid
La Chèvre, by Nexus Robotics Inc
LELY Exos, by Lely International NV
Phenomobile, by INRAE
Plantalyzer, by HortiKey
RoamIO Series, by Korechi Innovations Inc.
Robot One, by Pixelfarming Robotics
Robotti 150D, by Agrointelli
Romi Rover, by Romi Organisation
Spoutnic, by TIBOT Technologies
SwarmBot, by SwarmFarm Robotics
The Digital Farmhand, by AGERRIS
Titan FT-35, by FarmWise
Tom, by Small Robot Company
TREKTOR, by SITIA
VineScout, by Agricultural Robotics Laboratory
Weed Whacker robot, by Odd.Bot