“People-Free” Farming Possible
Researchers at a British University have tilled, planted, maintained and harvested crops for several years without a human ever entering a field. Called Hands Free Hectare (HFH), the project uses all autonomous machinery, including a tractor, harvester and drone.
“We wanted to prove that there was no technological reason a field couldn’t be farmed without humans, and we’ve done that,” says Kit Franklin, Harper Adams University.
The project received $340,000 in government funding to convert a small tractor and a quarter century old combine to autonomous capability. Each was outfitted with cameras, lasers and GPS systems.
By the second year only limited human involvement via remote control was needed. “We had to get the tractor to the right line, but once there, it drove itself to within 2-in. accuracy,” says Martin Abell, a mechatronics engineer for Precision Decisions, one of the corporate partners in HFH. “Our combine ran autonomously throughout the cutting, and yet again it completed the headland turns without a problem.”
Soil sampling was done with a drone. It was also used to monitor the crops for weeds and disease.
A highlight of the second year was being able to unload on-the-go. Drilling accuracy also improved significantly from year one.
Now in its third year, the project has expanded from one hectare (2.47 acres) to 35 hectares (85 acres). It has also expanded to multiple crops with plans for several more years of research in the works.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Harper Adams University, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 8NB (ph 44 1952 820280; info.HFH@harper-adams.ac.uk; https://www.handsfreehectare.com).
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“People-Free” Farming Possible COMBINES Miscellaneous Researchers at a British University have tilled planted maintained and harvested crops for several years without a human ever entering a field Called Hands Free Hectare HFH the project uses all autonomous machinery including a tractor harvester and drone “We wanted to prove that there was no technological reason a field couldn’t be farmed without humans and we’ve done that ” says Kit Franklin Harper Adams University The project received $340 000 in government funding to convert a small tractor and a quarter century old combine to autonomous capability Each was outfitted with cameras lasers and GPS systems By the second year only limited human involvement via remote control was needed “We had to get the tractor to the right line but once there it drove itself to within 2-in accuracy ” says Martin Abell a mechatronics engineer for Precision Decisions one of the corporate partners in HFH “Our combine ran autonomously throughout the cutting and yet again it completed the headland turns without a problem ” Soil sampling was done with a drone It was also used to monitor the crops for weeds and disease A highlight of the second year was being able to unload on-the-go Drilling accuracy also improved significantly from year one Now in its third year the project has expanded from one hectare 2 47 acres to 35 hectares 85 acres It has also expanded to multiple crops with plans for several more years of research in the works Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Harper Adams University Newport Shropshire TF10 8NB ph 44 1952 820280; info HFH@harper-adams ac uk; https://www handsfreehectare com
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