How can the planet feed nine to ten billion people? Intelligent agriculture" is an important part of the answer to this existential question: extremely high efficiency in food production thanks to the targeted use of the latest technologies, computer-aided and, wherever possible, fully automatic. Seeds are placed individually and precisely, fruit is gently picked using mechanical tongs, and fertilizers and pesticides are applied in small, targeted doses. These operations require a large number of small, robust and powerful electric motors. Quantum computers, space tourism or hydrogen technology: the latest technological trends focus on constantly evolving themes. Curiously, the most important sector, agriculture, is often overlooked. Yet, until now, it has reliably fed the world's exponentially growing population. The agricultural revolution that began in the 18th century has led to a considerable increase in yields. It is based on the increasing use of high-yield varieties, mineral fertilizers and chemical pesticides, as well as mechanization and large-scale artificial irrigation. However, these ecological interventions have not been without undesirable side-effects.
All well-founded demographic forecasts indicate that the world's population is set to reach nine to ten billion by the end of the century. The Earth has the potential to provide enough food for this large number of people. However, agriculture faces a major challenge. Crops and livestock must produce more without damaging vital resources. Fertile soil, clean groundwater and an intact natural world are our most precious "raw materials". They must be protected at all costs.
Focus on the plant, not the field
Until now, many important stages in the cultivation process, such as sowing, fertilization and plant protection treatments, have been related to the surface area of the land. When seeding or spraying pesticides, the quantity required is calculated per are or per hectare, and the machines dispense the product at the corresponding rate. Instead of strengthening the plants, some of the nitrogenous fertilizer ends up in the water table, where it clearly doesn't belong. Activities such as pruning fruit trees or harvesting delicate varieties of fruit and vegetables require costly manual labor, at a time when more and more businesses are suffering from staff shortages.
Intelligent agriculture uses modern technologies to increase efficiency, exploit all resources more sparingly, relieve people of monotonous work and produce higher yields. In this context, we also speak of precision farming and digital agriculture. Thanks to computer-aided and networked processes, machine learning and customized robotic functions, the focus can be on the individual plant, rather than the field as a whole.
The more measures are targeted directly at plants, the more sparingly and effectively they can be used. For example, the use of herbicides can be considerably reduced if they are applied to each individual plant in a more targeted way. Fruit and vegetables can be harvested at optimum maturity by robots making continuous passes.
Lightweight, autonomous agricultural robots also offer an opportunity to protect the land. Today's large farm machinery weighs up to ten tons. With such a weight, each pass results in significant soil compaction. The soil layer concerned can hardly absorb any more water or air, soil life is severely disrupted, and the growth and health of useful plants in the vicinity of passing paths is also affected. Intelligent farming can contribute to better soil health and increased biodiversity.
Automation for agriculture and horticulture
At present, many applications exist only in the form of studies or prototypes. However, intelligent agriculture is already being put into practice, for example in precision planting. This technology was originally developed for seed research and production. These machines enable seeds to be planted at precisely defined intervals. Each plant is given sufficient space to develop, and the surface area is optimally utilized. At the same time, valuable seeds are used extremely efficiently.
The most modern machines use an electrically-driven separation module per row. A motor drives a slotted or toothed disc that transports the seed to the outlet. Thanks to an intelligent controller, it is possible to precisely define the optimum spacing for each type of seed. Different row radii can be compensated for when cornering. Seed transmission to the discs is controlled by motorized shutters.
When growing vegetables or flowers in greenhouses, many plants are first germinated in small pots and then replanted in larger pots or flowerbeds. In modern horticultural companies, machines are used to sort and handle plants and pots. These machines are very similar to those used in the logistics and industrial production sectors. These are belt conveyors and roller conveyors on which trays with products at different stages are transported, sorted and repotted. The grippers used differ from similar devices in other sectors only in the shape of their "fingers". Driven by micromotors, they ensure automatic handling of the various plant pots and clods.
Self-propelled harvesting machines for fruit and vegetables have not yet reached the stage of mass production for large-scale use, but we can already foresee the direction of technical development: camera-assisted sensors detect the degree of ripeness of strawberries or peppers according to their color and shape, and record their exact position. The on-board computer uses this data to control a robotic arm equipped with a sort of shears and a collection device. Prototypes of this technology are full of electric motors, from the individual wheel drive, through the robotic arm and cutting device, to the collection system for the harvested produce.
Essential technologies: electrical systems and electronics
" Mechanical transmissions and pneumatic drives are widely used in traditional farming techniques.." explains Kevin Moser, Business Development Manager at Faulhaber in charge of applications for this sector. " But for the smaller-scale systems of intelligent agriculture, they are often too heavy, too massive, too mechanically complex and too energy-inefficient. So we're seeing more and more small electric motors being used to provide the power needed for specific work steps. Drives used in the agricultural environment, however, usually have to meet very high standards. "
Unlike conventional large-scale machines, the machines and components used for intelligent agriculture are generally lighter and more compact. This means that there is often little space available for motors. However, as drives for seeding discs, flaps, clamps, robotic arms or shears, they need to deliver enough power to enable each task to be performed reliably over countless cycles. They must also operate extremely efficiently, since stand-alone units normally draw their power from batteries with limited electrical autonomy. In addition, the control electronics must be capable of being integrated into networked structures, enabling intelligent control.
" These are typical requirements for top-of-the-range drive systems, and the appropriate answers are part of Faulhaber's standard equipment, Kevin Moser continues. In addition, the drives used in agricultural environments must also be extremely robust, so as to operate reliably over the long term under the harshest conditions. Wide temperature variations and high mechanical stress are commonplace in agriculture and horticulture. And yet, costs must remain reasonable. At Faulhaber, we offer a range of different equipment series designed to meet these requirements. "
Mr. Moser is referring to the extremely compact, maintenance-free, brushless flat DC micromotors of the BXT series, as well as the exceptionally robust and cost-effective copper graphite motors of the CXR range. The gearboxes in the new GPT series are ideally suited to transmitting high loads under difficult conditions. With maximum efficiency, they are also extremely robust, making them ideal for agricultural applications. Optional incremental encoders enable high-precision positioning. Various controllers, with CANopen interface for example, are available for networking drive systems. " Faulhaber drives are already being used in intelligent agriculture, reports Kevin Moser. They will continue to play an important role in this sector's demanding applications. "