Agricultural Robotics

11B2146

Bachelor

German

5.0

only summer term

1 semester

Highly automated agricultural machinery and agricultural robots are on the threshold of being used as systems alongside conventional agricultural technology. The agricultural robotics module provides an overview of current highly automated agricultural machinery and agricultural robots and the technologies required to control them.  Basic skills for navigating autonomous systems such as localization, path planning and mapping are taught and an overview of the sensors required for this is given. Students receive an introduction to the Robot Operating System and gain practical experience in programming autonomous robots.

1. Overview of autonomous systems in agriculture (systems and areas of application)
2. Navigation of autonomous systems (localisation, path planning, obstacle avoidance, mapping)
3. Robot Operating System (ROS2)

The total workload for the module is 150 hours (see also "ECTS credit points and grading").

The module is divided into two parts and begins with a lecture phase in which the basics are taught. This is followed by a supervised homework phase in which students are expected to apply the knowledge they have acquired in practical projects.

• Project Report, written or
• Homework / Assignment or
• oral exam

• Field work / Experimental work

Homework topics (preferably group work) are assigned around halfway through the course. These are implemented by the students. Examination performance is the created source code, the term paper (explanatory documentation of the source code and description of the experiments) as well as a presentation of the results in the form of a presentation and/or demo.

Graded examination performance:

• Project report, written: approx. 10-15 pages, accompanying explanation: approx. 20 minutes
• Term paper: between 10 and 15 pages, depending on the topic and group size, accompanying presentation/demo: 15 minutes
• Oral exam: see general section of the examination regulations

Ungraded examination component:

• Experimental work: Experiment: approx. 6 experiments in total

The module requires basic programming skills in the Python programming language, as taught in the "Digitalization and Programming" module.

Students understand the potential and possible applications of agricultural robotics and can classify the associated technological challenges. 

Students acquire in-depth knowledge in the field of navigation of autonomous robots. They will be able to assess the properties of the sensors used and develop navigation algorithms based on the Robotic Operating System (ROS2).

The students can weigh up which agricultural processes can be automated by robots and at what cost.

Students can derive the necessary navigation capabilities of a robot from a problem and implement these in the ROS2 framework. 

The module is closely integrated into the research activities of the university's Agro-Technicum and the assignments to be completed address current issues from these projects.

Students can work on the tasks in groups, divide up the work to be done and draw up a joint work plan. They are able to write down and present the joint result in a clearly structured form.

Students can assess which specialist disciplines need to come together to develop autonomous agricultural robots and are able to reflect on their own skills against this background.

• Stiene, Stefan

• Schöning, Julius
• Stiene, Stefan