Solar powered Agri Robot for Autonomous Seed Sowing
In this modern era of technology all sectors are marching toward rapid growth. With the increase in population and conversion of agriculture land in residential area. To meet the future food demand, the farmers have to implement the new techniques which not affect soil texture but increase crop prod
2025-06-28 16:36:03 - Adil Khan
Solar powered Agri Robot for Autonomous Seed Sowing
Project Area of Specialization RoboticsProject SummaryIn this modern era of technology all sectors are marching toward rapid growth. With the increase in population and conversion of agriculture land in residential area. To meet the future food demand, the farmers have to implement the new techniques which not affect soil texture but increase crop productivity, reduce farming cost, increase efficiency of cultivation with minimum wastage of seeds, water and fertilizers. The conventional methods are unsustainable, time consuming and effects soil fertility by excessive use of fertilizers.
With this project we aim to develop a prototype, Solar-powered Agri-Robot for Autonomous Seed Sowing, which can perform various agriculture tasks automatically without wasting time. It is an autonomous robot with mobility platform which has four legs that can move independently in any orientation at any point in farming field. It uses end-effector called Seeding Tool. Seeding tool is designed to be multipurpose (digging, seeding, watering) and adjustable to perform farming tasks while mounted on mobility platform. The robot is inputted by user about seed variety, it moves autonomously in field and adjust the seeding depth and distance between it with performing of sowing operations. It also has a Smart Soil Sensor which can detect the moisture and pH level of field. Also, it can detect ambient light of field.
Project Objectives- Mobility platform that can move in any orientation in field
- An automatic tillage mechanism to dig into soil (to maintain the seed depth )
- A Seeding Mechanism (to sow the seed by taking into consideration seed type and its
spacing that is actually needed) - A Watering mechanism (A system that can irrigate properly in field)
- A feedback system to detect moisture, pH and ambient light of field
- Efficient Productivity (increase crop yield and efficiency)
Mobility platform
Mobility platform that can move in any orientation at any angle in farming field. It has four legs each leg is controlled by two motor one for driving wheel and second for steering of leg. In this way four legs are controlled so that our vehicle can move independently at a point in any orientation given as input.
For driving purpose, we used DC gear motors and for steering Wiper motors. DC gear motors are connected with tires through the chains and thus transfer the torques to drive wheels. Wiper motors are connected to wheels assembly through steering mechanism using the thrust bearing, simple bearing and universal joints. Dampers are connected to platform to absorb the vibrations so that robot remain in contact with the ground in spite of irregular or unequal agriculture field.
Solar Powered
Agriculture-Robot is powered by solar energy source (renewable energy) so that it is available at
any place in field. Two solar plates are mounted on the platform in V shape and connected to batteries to store power.
End Effector
Multiple End Effectors called Seeding Tool are mounted on platform. Each can move up and down to adjust seed depth, the motion is provided by linear actuator. It can also can move to-and-fro to adjust seed to seed distance, the motion is provided manually. Each has three main purposes
Tillage:
An auger tool is used to dig in soil and then seed is dropped in that position.
Seeding:
It drop the seeds in a specific position. A hub, to store seeds, and a seeding mechanism is used to drop seeds one by one.
Watering:
It irrigates the soil where seed is dropped by supplying the required amount of water and saving the natural resource of water.
Autonomous
To make the robot autonomous so that it can navigate in field easily and can perform its operations accordingly despite of very rough land. Different navigation modules like Gyroscope and Compass are used to make the robot to follow its path i.e. drive and steer, accurately through-out the field.
Smart Soil Sensor
It is a modular soil sensor that works independently. It monitors soil condition by using two different rods. One for soil moisture and other for soil pH. It also monitors the intensity of ambient light. Along with this it also tells the global position of that point where soil condition is monitored. After processing all of the data in Arduino MC, it sends to mobile app through Wi-Fi.
Benefits of the ProjectEfficient Crop Production: this project will increase crop productivity by efficient use of seeds, water and fertilizers. It will also reduce the production cost by decreasing required labor.
Future Food Demands: Farming Trends are decreasing in Pakistan day by day due to urbanization. Agricultural land is being converted into residential colonies and commercial markets that are resulting in decrease in farming trends across the country. By adopting smart ways of farming like use of this robot in fields will help us to meet future food demands.
Non-polluting Source of Energy: the project is powered by electricity which is generated from solar energy.Solar energy is sustainable and totally inexhaustible, unlike fossil fuels that are finite. It is also a non-polluting source of energy and it does not emit any greenhouse gases when producing electricity.
Tractor Free: in conventional methodsthe wholefield is ploughed through tractor which is not needed. This robot digs hole only where the seed is to sow.
Water Saving: in conventional methods of farming crops are irrigated through flood system which results in wastage of a lot of water. This project saves a lot of water by only dropping required amount where it is needed.
Seed Saving: in conventional methods of farming seeds are broadcasted by hand which results in wastage of a lot of seeds. This project saves a lot of seeds by only dropping where it is needed. This will maintain a proper distance between seeds which in result gives a proper division of soil nutrition.
Technological Revolution: this project will revolutionize and digitize the agriculture sector of Pakistan.
Less Labor Expenses: the project will replace manpower with machine which will result in less labor expenses.
Remote access: the robot communicates with end user through wi-fi and displays all of the information on a mobile app, which provides a remote access.
Technical Details of Final DeliverableAs a Final Deliverable of project, we are required to submit hardware of mobility platform able to move in any direction and can perform operations of tillage, seed sowing and watering automatically at desired location. Also, a smart soil sensor that can measure ambient light of field, moisture and pH of soil.
Along with hardware we are also required to submit Final Year Project Report containing all of the information of project.
Final Deliverable of the Project HW/SW integrated systemCore Industry AgricultureOther IndustriesCore Technology RoboticsOther TechnologiesSustainable Development Goals Zero Hunger, Affordable and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Climate ActionRequired Resources| Item Name | Type | No. of Units | Per Unit Cost (in Rs) | Total (in Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total in (Rs) | 77000 | |||
| Manufacturing of Mechanical Structure of Robot | Equipment | 1 | 35000 | 35000 |
| Manufacturing of Seeding Tool | Equipment | 1 | 10000 | 10000 |
| Motor Drivers | Equipment | 4 | 1480 | 5920 |
| Arduino UNO | Equipment | 1 | 700 | 700 |
| Arduino Due | Equipment | 1 | 2100 | 2100 |
| Wires | Equipment | 1 | 1500 | 1500 |
| Linear Slide | Equipment | 3 | 2500 | 7500 |
| Spring | Equipment | 8 | 150 | 1200 |
| Relay Modules | Equipment | 10 | 190 | 1900 |
| Motor | Equipment | 1 | 1000 | 1000 |
| Battery | Equipment | 2 | 1200 | 2400 |
| Water Pump | Equipment | 1 | 780 | 780 |
| Project Report | Miscellaneous | 1 | 1000 | 1000 |
| Fair to Transport Project | Miscellaneous | 1 | 3000 | 3000 |
| Stationery | Miscellaneous | 1 | 1000 | 1000 |
| 3D Printing of Smart Soil Sensor Model | Miscellaneous | 1 | 2000 | 2000 |