Robotics and agriculture

How to use robotics in agriculture?

Smart farming with our automation technologies are used for the autonomous cultivation of fields and indoor farming. The future technology is intended to allow sustainable agriculture and mass production of animal and vegetable products in urban spaces.

Great cost savings and faster ROI
Flexible adaptation of robot tasks
Freedom from lubrication and maintenance; no product contamination
Dirt and corrosion-resistant components
FDA-compliant components

Would you like more information about smart farming with low cost automation at igus®? Our experts will be happy to get in touch with you.

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Relevant igus® products to smart farming

drylin® linear robots

Insensitive to dirt
Quick, simple assembly
Loads of up to 30kg
Precision requirements of up to approx. 0.5mm
Speeds of up to 1.5m/s

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robolink® articulated arm robot

High flexibility: freely selectable end effectors
2 to 5 degrees of freedom (DOF)
Design and simulate online, including parts list
With or without motors
With or without a control system

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drylin® delta robots

660mm workspace diameter with 180mm of working height
Self-lubricating drylin® ZLW toothed belt axes
Pick rate of up to 30 per minute
With stepper motors and motor control

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chainflex® data cables

Sls sold by the metre or ready made
Suitable for high loads
Fail-safe, with 36-month guarantee
From stock and ready for shipment in 24h

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Energy chains

Suitable for long travel
Can be used in different orientations
Heavy duty options as well as miniature.
Available from stock

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Application exmaples of robotics and agriculture

Robotic garden helper

High-tech, high-precision and reliable equipment was needed for this application. The components must be able to withstand dust and dirt and also not weigh too much.

Fully automatic weed killer
Can be used flexibly as object recognition can be expanded
Replaces awkward manual processes
Fast payback by increasing field yield

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Automated worm breeding

For many people, worm breeding is dirty and associated with a feeling of disgust. The increasing demand for these little pink friends is constantly increasing and with it the required production capacities. In order to get the whole thing under control, SUPERWURM has consistently relied on Low Cost Automation.

Weather-independent cultivation of worms possible
All components are dirt-resistant and therefore maintenance-free
Fully automatic sorting before delivery
Cost-effective and easy on employees

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Superwurm with automation in smart farming

The Langhoff family breeds giant red worms, which are used by anglers as food worms for animals, for hunting and as natural fertiliser producers for gardens and greenhouses. Over the last decade, Martin Langhoff has been developing his own systems to facilitate everyday work for the family business, in order to improve the breeding process and make it more effective. Used in water, soil and dirt, robust igus® components have become a reliable partner in vertical farming during this process.

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Growing vegetables like on an assembly line

A fully automated system for growing vegetables and herbs. The system is designed inside a container.
From planting seeds to watering and harvesting, a fully autonomous system.

Cost savings by eliminating manual processes
Container can be positioned variably
Everything is permanently monitored and controlled by sensors and cameras
Optimum cultivation conditions in decentralised systems

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Field robots in agriculture & indoor farming with Low Cost Automation

Harvest robot for automated cucumber harvesting
In automated cucumber harvesting, this harvest robot is to deliver economy, power and reliability in tough weather conditions, detecting ripe cucumbers and picking and depositing them gently with its two gripper arms. Modern control methods give the robot fine tactile sensitivity, helping it adapt to different environmental conditions.

Without chemicals: delta robot destroys weeds by zapper
The world's first non-chemical weed control robot for cereal crops, manufactured by agri-tech start-up Small Robot Company, has successfully identified and controlled weeds in a field trial in Hampshire. The wheeled robot uses delta robot arms to position a "zapper" and use "lightning strikes" to kill weeds. The drylin delta robots were selected due to their precision, cost-effective and lubrication-free technology.

Laser robots perform weeding
We worked with Ponchon SAS to develop a field robot that provides farmers with targeted, localised weed control. The agricultural robot uses artificial intelligence to locate weeds and burn them with a laser beam in a targeted manner.

Individual robot solution for strawberry harvesting
AINAC Systems Co. is currently developing an automatic strawberry harvesting system. For this purpose, a simple robot arm is specially developed which can pick strawberries with 3 axes (horizontal, vertical and rotation) without using an expensive articulated arm robot. Lubrication-free igus materials and modular gearboxes from the Apiro gearbox modular system are used for the main part of the robot structure.

No noteworthy wear – even after one year of constant operation

Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) was founded in 2013 as an indoor gardening company with the vision of making vertical farming commercially viable. They planned by improving productivity, yields, quality and consistency and greatly reducing costs for electricity and work with the TCEA principle. The IGS systems must work with great precision and as little friction as possible and be easy to maintain. igus drylin linear guide systems fulfil all requirements and ensure reliable operation. One year after installation of lubrication-free components, no noticeable bearing shell wear could be detected upon inspection.

100% maintenance-free for plant irrigation

This system, which consists of crossbeams and belongs to Living Green Farms, an American producer, irrigates many plants in a vacant 4,000m² warehouse. igus® e-chains® support work in "Aeroponics" and are outstanding because of their absolute freedom from maintenance.