Bronze Agricultural Equipment · 2024
Agar Agricultural Autonomous Robot
- Bronze A' Design Award 2024 in Agricultural Equipment
- CLIENT: Coming, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Niš, FPM Agromehanika
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 74,803
- Verification code 158CE0B8C8 · Verify this award
Colors
About Agar Agricultural Autonomous Robot
Agar is a self-leveling robotic platform designed for precision agriculture on uneven terrain. The platform can be operated by remote control, programmed to follow a set GPS path, or run autonomously using obstacle avoidance sensors. Independent battery powered motors on each wheel allow turning in place. The wheels can be repositioned to suit different crop row distances, and the platform adapts to slopes of up to 30 degrees. Emergency stop buttons and mechanical bumpers support user safety. Steel, stainless steel and aluminium parts are powder coated.
About the Bronze A' Design Award
Agar Agricultural Autonomous Robot is a Bronze A' Design Award winner, a highly prestigious recognition granted to outstanding designs distinguished by creativity, ingenuity, and astuteness. Bronze winners are amply skillful and strikingly creative artifacts that authenticate the vast experience, imagination, and resourcefulness of their designers. Agar Agricultural Autonomous Robot is expected to be a highly regarded, admired, and cherished object that is notably professional and innovative. This Bronze A' Design Award-winning design incorporates best practices in art, science, design, and technology, and is excellent for its attention to detail. Agar Agricultural Autonomous Robot splendidly satisfies needs, touches desires, charms feelings, and appeals to curiosity.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The robot can be remotely controlled, programmed to move on a predefined GPS path, and autonomous using obstacle avoidance sensors. Independent battery powered motors on each wheel enable turning in place by reversing the left and right set of wheels. All visible electromechanical parts are protected by the robust constructions of movable and fixed frames. User safety is also ensured by emergency stop buttons in the corners of the vehicle and mechanical safety bumpers.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Lenght: 179-222cm, Width: max. 147cm, Height: 137-178cm. Weight: 740kg
- Tags
- Robot, Autonomous, Universal, Dynamics, Strength, Perseverance
- Production Technology
- Laser cut, pressed and welded steel, Stainless steel and aluminum, powdercoated
- Design Challenge
- The form was developed over a year in iterations, respecting and emphasizing the multi-functionality of the adaptable platform. The creative process included elaboration of the main shell, the roof housing, and the mobile and stationary modular assemblies for multiple uses. The large number of visible components presented a challenge, overcome by using related angles. Directing details, balancing masses and proportions, and positioning of sensors, radar and lidar, was perfected in stages.
- Research
- The design project started in March 2023 using an existing construction of a working prototype, developed by Coming and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Nis. Special attention in the design was devoted to stability of the robot bearing an agricultural machine, since the platform adapts to terrain with slopes of up to 30 degrees in all directions. For this purpose, mounting weights were added to the final solution, considering that the weight of the robot should not have exceeded 750kg.
- Inspiration
- Agar is a universal selfleveling platform for precision agriculture, a tractor replacement, mobile on extremely uneven terrains and under heavy loads. The form was modeled following the latest design tendencies, with strict technical limitations, to match or exceed the standards set by leading companies in the Smart Farming industry. Aesthetics emphasize robustness, dynamics and strength, equally present at any working height of the vehicle that adapts to the terrain, type and height of crop.
- Project Duration
- The design project lasted for a year, and was implemented in Belgrade, Nis and Boljevac
- Operation Flow
- Wheel motors are protected within a movable leg frame. The main battery pack can be changed by removing a magnetic fascia mask. Additional top battery pack, robotic arm or solar panel can be placed using roof profiles on the main shell. The wheels can be repositioned to the inside, allowing use between crop rows of different distances. The beveled shell gives good clearance, while latest RGB LED signaling lights arranged in a 360 design inform the user on working status and illuminate the path.
- Image Credits
- Images: Vladimir Zagorac
Video Credits: Coming, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Nis
