Designing a Fertilizing Robot Application Considering Energy Efficiency

• Published in: Environmental and Climate Technologies Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 258 - 268
• Main Authors: Olt, Jüri, Liivapuu, Olga, Virro, Indrek, Lillerand, Tormi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Riga Sciendo 01.01.2024; Riga Technical University
• Subjects: Accumulators; Agricultural robots; Alternative energy sources; Asphalt; Batteries; Battery chargers; berry plantation; Biogas; Charge efficiency; Control systems; Depletion; Electric generators; Electric power grids; Energy charge; Energy consumption; Energy efficiency; Fertilization; Fertilizers; Generators; Motor task performance; Peat; power; Power efficiency; Power management; precision fertilization; Robot control; Robots; Solar energy; Spreaders; Traction
• ISSN: 2255-8837; 1691-5208; 2255-8837
• DOI: 10.2478/rtuect-2024-0021

Electrically driven agricultural robots encounter accelerated battery depletion compared to vehicles operating on asphalt due to heightened rolling and traction resistance necessitating increased energy consumption. This issue becomes pronounced in regions devoid of access to the electrical grid, precluding the possibility of recharging electrically driven agricultural robots and consequently leading to interruptions in their uninterrupted functionality. To address this challenge, the agrorobotics working group at the Estonian University of Life Sciences devised a novel solution: a combined energy production station leveraging biogas, hydrogen, and solar energy. This station was integrated with a prototype autonomous fertilizing robot tailored for blueberry plantations to conduct precision fertilization on depleted milled peat fields. Distinctive features of the station encompass an automated battery exchange system and an electric generator equipped with a membrane motor. These components, in conjunction with a solar energy and electric generator control system, alongside a battery charger, are affixed onto a mobile platform. The primary objective of this study was to ascertain the energy requisites of an autonomous fertilizing robot during field traversal and while executing technological operations. To achieve this aim, the mechanical power and energy necessary for the operation of the robot fertilizer spreader were initially quantified. Subsequently, an accumulator possessing suitable power and capacity for the operation of the robot fertilizer spreader was chosen. The article further delineates the determination of the travel distance achievable by the robot on a single charge of the selected accumulator, in addition to evaluating the traction power efficiency and specific power.