Autonomous farming robot
images/Autonomous farming robot _1639949174.png Significant challenges are being faced by the farming industry of Pakistan, in the form of poor yield as well as inefficient use of basic resources including water, fertilizer, pesticides, labor etc. In this era of modern technology, conventiona
2025-06-28 16:30:31 - Adil Khan
Autonomous farming robot
Project Area of Specialization RoboticsProject Summaryimages/Autonomous farming robot _1639949174.png
Significant challenges are being faced by the farming industry of Pakistan, in the form of poor yield as well as inefficient use of basic resources including water, fertilizer, pesticides, labor etc. In this era of modern technology, conventional methods of farming are unable to achieve the goal. Due to lack of enough skilled manpower and for betterment of economy, the agriculture system needs to be revolutionized. We might find numerous project targeted agriculture sector, but either most of them are single task system or that system has focused on harvesting. This project proposes a robotics and microcontroller-based precision agriculture system that will allow farmers to utilize resources like water more effectively and efficiently. The proposed system will be capable to perform sophisticated tasks such as soil bed preparation, precise distribution of seeds, watering and monitoring agricultural parameters like temperature, humidity and moisture. By adding three-dimensional movement inside the robot, it will be able to cover a large area and thus speed of work will be increased. In addition, a Web based graphical user interface (GUI) will also be designed, which would provide a graphical assistance to users so that they can operate the robot wirelessly with their own designed strategy of plantation.
The aim of this project is to develop microcontroller based autonomous farming robot equipped with sensors to perform agricultural tasks such as soil preparation, seed injection and watering.
- To develop a graphical user interface with ESP32 webserver using http (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) and php (Hypertext Preprocessor) protocols in Arduino IDE (Integrated development environment) so that user can operate the robot through that interface wirelessly.
- Interfacing of ESP32 web server with STM microcontroller through UART communication.
- To develop a mechanical structure for aluminum framed robot mounted with STM microcontroller, sensors and other accessories to perform soil preparation, seed injection, watering and monitoring moisture, humidity and temperature.
- Interfacing of motors with robot and developing RF (Radio Frequency) technique for the movement.
- Implementing solar panel for back up supply.
- Testing of designed robot/framework in the Electronic Engineering park.
images/Autonomous farming robot _1639949175.png
Our proposed Autonomous farming robot consists of two parts, mechanical and electronics. Mechanical part comprises of structure of robot and electronics part is for the control and automation purpose. Mechanical structure for farming robot will be designed that would have similar hardware to CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine for the demonstration and output of all components, circuits and sensors will be implemented on Mechanical part. Linear actuators will be used to convert the rotational motion of stepper motor into linear motion. Pulley and belt will be used as a linear actuator since it has less friction. Moreover, pulley and belt actuators are economical, highly efficient as noise and vibrations are damped out. Graphical user interface (GUI) will be created using http (Hypertext Transfer Text Protocol) and php (Hypertext Preprocessor) protocol in an Arduino IDE (Integrated development environment) by using ESP32 webserver. A user can interact and assign tasks to machine through that interface. Further ESP32 will communicate with STM controller through UART communication and STM will activate a specific circuit as the user assigns. Humidity and temperature sensors (DHT-11) and grove moisture sensor, LCD panel and different circuits like soil preparation tool, seed injection, watering, limit switch and stepper motors and their drivers’ will interface with STM microcontroller. Soil preparation tool will be developed using DC motor and current sensing feedback mechanism to bring nutrients on the surface of soil, seed injector will be developed using relay and solenoid valve to plant seeds and watering mechanism will be developed using water pump to regulate the pressure of water.3D stepper motors will be implemented for 3D movement within the robot to perform specific task at a specific place. Limit switch will be used to stop the motors at the end position of motor. Further tires will also be added for the movement of robot so that it can cover whole field by applying the technique of RF wireless transmission. In addition, solar panel system will be installed so that our robot would have back up supply.
Benefits of the ProjectIn Pakistan, as we know that there is a trend of conventional farming in the field of agriculture. Technology has been incorporated in many fields like in medical as hybrid operating rooms, wireless brain sensors and robotic surgery and in military as nuclear weapons, guided missiles and radar. Now it is time to incorporate technological advancements in agricultural field. Animal and tractors are used for ploughing the soil in conventional farming; however, it requires more energy and fuel which results in pollution. Our robot will prepare the soil using motor and pulse width modulation technique; therefore, it would save the energy and we will also get rid of pollution. There is a major problem of lack of resources specially water. Watering is being done over application in some areas and under application in other through conventional farming, in this case robot will be much beneficial because it will drip required quantity of water where the seed has to be injected. As robot will do work faster than a human being so it will also increase the speed of work, that would save the time too. Faster the agriculture tasks, faster will crop grow, that will result in excess of crop eventually resulting in the economy progression. This product will not only be beneficial for agricultural field but also for economy of the country. It can be operated through a graphical user assistance which is user friendly so that the user can operate the robot easily. This robot will also create employment opportunities as labor can be trained and educated so that they can be the operator of robot.
Technical Details of Final DeliverableThe final product will be the combination of Mechanical, Electronics and Software. Autonomous farming robot would have mechanical structure like CNC (Computer numerical control) machine which can be operated through a graphical user interface using WIFI (Wireless fidelity) communication. The robot will be able to perform following tasks:
- Soil preparation
- Precise distribution of seeds
- Watering
- Monitoring parameters like moisture, humidity and temperature and displaying it on LCD panel.
It can be operated in two modes: Autonomous and user control mode. User will have privileges to get the desired task done by clicking on its respective graphical buttons in the user control mode. However, in autonomous mode, initiating the start button will result in automatic performance of tasks such as soil preparation, seed injection and watering and halt afterwards.
Final Deliverable of the Project HW/SW integrated systemCore Industry AgricultureOther IndustriesCore Technology RoboticsOther TechnologiesSustainable Development Goals Decent Work and Economic GrowthRequired Resources| Item Name | Type | No. of Units | Per Unit Cost (in Rs) | Total (in Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total in (Rs) | 80000 | |||
| Aluminium framed robot | Equipment | 1 | 20000 | 20000 |
| Vero board | Equipment | 1 | 100 | 100 |
| Jumpers bundle | Equipment | 2 | 100 | 200 |
| STM32F407 Discovery board | Equipment | 1 | 5500 | 5500 |
| ESP32 Webserver | Equipment | 1 | 850 | 850 |
| Power supply 5v | Equipment | 1 | 360 | 360 |
| Power supply 12v | Equipment | 1 | 4500 | 4500 |
| Resistors | Equipment | 25 | 2 | 50 |
| Capacitors | Equipment | 10 | 5 | 50 |
| Optocoupler TLP250 | Equipment | 10 | 130 | 1300 |
| Stepper motor driver DM556D2 | Equipment | 4 | 2500 | 10000 |
| Nema 23 Stepper motor(GM57HS76-3004) | Equipment | 4 | 2100 | 8400 |
| DC motor 775 | Equipment | 1 | 650 | 650 |
| Voltage regulator 775 | Equipment | 1 | 10 | 10 |
| Current sensor HCPL 7800 | Equipment | 1 | 600 | 600 |
| Differential amplifier MC34081 | Equipment | 1 | 100 | 100 |
| Drilling Barma | Equipment | 1 | 20 | 20 |
| NOT gate 74ls04 | Equipment | 1 | 50 | 50 |
| Relays 6v | Equipment | 4 | 50 | 200 |
| Solenoid valve | Equipment | 1 | 1000 | 1000 |
| Nozzle | Equipment | 2 | 300 | 600 |
| Water pump 12v | Equipment | 1 | 400 | 400 |
| Motor driver L289N | Equipment | 1 | 200 | 200 |
| Limit switch | Equipment | 1 | 100 | 100 |
| Isolator 4N35 | Equipment | 2 | 30 | 60 |
| Humidity and temperature sensor DHT 11 | Equipment | 1 | 180 | 180 |
| Grove moisture and ph sensor | Equipment | 1 | 140 | 140 |
| Solar panel 100w | Equipment | 2 | 2000 | 4000 |
| Solar controller | Equipment | 1 | 500 | 500 |
| Motors and tyres | Equipment | 4 | 2450 | 9800 |
| Connectors | Equipment | 4 | 20 | 80 |
| Traveling for surveys and consultation | Miscellaneous | 1 | 5000 | 5000 |
| Project thesis Printing, photocopies and binding | Miscellaneous | 1 | 5000 | 5000 |