Ag Tech

SwarmFarm teams with Roesner to build autonomous fertiliser spreader

Grain Central, October 17, 2019

CENTRAL Queensland-based SwarmFarm Robotics has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Western Australian-based spreader manufacturing company, Roesner, to develop a fully autonomous fertiliser spreader.

The MOU was signed by SwarmFarm chief executive officer, Andrew Bate, and Roesner technical director, Matthew Roesner.

Under the MOU, collaboration between the two Australian companies will focus on the integration of Roesner’s flagship-brand Marshall Multispread fertiliser spreader and i4M control system for variable rate applications with SwarmFarm’s autonomous platform and SwarmConnectTM.

“This is a significant advancement for adoption of precision agriculture and this partnership closes the loop between crop decisions, variable rate applications and autonomous farming,” Mr Bate said.

“We have already commercially released multiple applications ranging from optical spot spraying of weeds, blanket spraying and mowing apps on board the SwarmBot platform. These are fully autonomous and unmanned field operations working on commercial farms.

“Variable rate spreading of agricultural inputs is the most utilised form of precision agriculture around the world, so the partnership with Roesner Pty Ltd was a logical step to close the link between spreading operations and Autonomous Agriculture.”

Mr Roesner said the collaboration between the two companies to develop the autonomous spreader pointed to the future of agriculture.

“Developing and demonstrating the concept of an autonomous spreader provides a glimpse into the future of farming where smaller, lightweight machines apply fertilisers more precisely and in a more timely manner to better match crop requirements,” he said.

“The i4M control system developed by Precision Agronomics Australia, our dedicated Precision Ag division, will enable the SwarmFarm integrated spreader to carry out Variable Rate prescriptions and capture biomass data on the run.”

Source: Roesner

 

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