From robotic sprayers to autonomous tractors, the machines of the future must integrate three key technologies: positioning, perception, and control.
Each system is essential, but autonomy only works with deep integration, eliminating data gaps or delays between what the machine sees, where it is, and how it reacts. This synchronisation reduces errors, speeds up development, and improves performance. Choosing the right supplier is critical.
Where am I?
Autonomous machines must know their precise location. GNSS positioning, enhanced by inertial sensors (GNSS+INS), ensures the accuracy required for tasks like planting or harvesting. Even small deviations can impact yield. Precision and reliability are non-negotiable.
Farms present real-world challenges: tree cover, rolling terrain, and variable satellite visibility. Positioning systems must overcome these hurdles with advanced sensor fusion and compliance with standards like ISO 25119 and ISO 18497.
What’s around me?
Perception allows machines to “see” and understand their environment. Using cameras and advanced algorithms, perception systems detect dynamic obstacles like animals or people, which are crucial for safety and route planning.
They recognise:
- Obstacles: Rocks, logs, people, animals,
- Boundaries: Crop rows, fences, field edges,
- Infrastructure: Trees, poles, buildings.
Perception helps avoid collisions and informs decisions, but without positioning, it lacks context. Together, they enable accurate decisions in the right location.
How to automate operations?
Once a machine knows its position and surroundings, it must act. Control systems convert data into movement, managing navigation and implement operation with precision and safety.
Control systems must adapt to various machine types and conditions. The tighter the integration with positioning and perception, the smoother and more efficient the operations.
Why is integration essential?
Positioning, perception, and control each provide unique value, but their full potential is unlocked only when they work together. A reliable partner offering all three systems simplifies development by providing:
- Seamless communication,
- Pre-tested compatibility,
- Streamlined certification,
- Reduced risk.
For agricultural autonomy, integration is the key. The future belongs to machines that can think and act as one.
