The 14th International Field Robot Event (FRE) will take place during the 2016 DLG-Feldtage, which will be held from 14 to 16 June at Maria Burghausen in Hassfurt (Lower Franconia), Germany.
The FRE, which is organized by the University of Hohenheim in cooperation with the DLG and other European universities, is expected to welcome more than 20 student teams from 10 countries that will compete with their field robots to find out which performs best in the field. Launched in 2003 by the University of Wageningen in the Netherlands, the goal is to test pioneering technologies in robotics and precision farming under real conditions.
The annual competition, which was held alongside the DLG-Feldtage for the first time in 2014, aims to give young scientists the opportunity to interact with international visitors at the event, which should help them develop their ideas for progressing this promising technology. The event promises to provide a demanding practical test for the robots and their inventers, as well as exciting entertainment for the spectators.
Field Robot competition tests different disciplines
The competitive element of the FRE will test the entrants in five different disciplines that involve solving problems in the trial field. For the first two tasks, the field robots must show their skills in navigation tests. Working autonomously, the robots must quickly, precisely and purposefully drive on the experimental field, avoid obstacles or overcome this.
For the third test, the robots must detect weeds and treat them like a conventional crop sprayer, while for the fourth the field robots have to automatically get filled with seeds from a filling station and the plant them in the correct agronomic manner.
In the final Freestyle test, teams must demonstrate a self-selected agriculture-related task that makes their robot stand out from the rest. In this section of the competition, creativity is in great demand and excitement and fun guaranteed.
Field Robot Junior
In addition, the FRE will inspire younger students in this pioneering technology for agriculture. As part of FRE Junior, pupils and their teachers, mostly from secondary schools in the region around the DLG Feldtage site, have been set tasks to accomplish with Lego Mindstorm robots.
This competition does not take place in the field, but on a specially prepared course in the FRE tent. The students will compete with their Lego robots in various tasks that call for precise navigation and speed, while there will also be a freestyle competition to test the pupils' creativity.
Field Robot Demo will also take place
In addition to the competitions, visitors to this year's DLG-Feldtage will get the opportunity to see examples of current field robot technology alongside the experimental units created for the FRE tests. Professional prototypes of field robots that are already operational will be on display at the event.
Spectators are welcome at the FRE at all times. They can watch the teams putting together and testing their robots and gather information in the competition tent with the help of posters explaining the various projects. Visitors will also be able to engage in discussions with experts in the Field Robot Talks forum, where robot specialists from the different colleges and universities will discuss the latest developments in this fascinating topic – not only technical issues, but how the use of technology can benefit sustainability in the agricultural sector.
Field Robot Design
For the first time this year, a new Design Award will be presented to the field robot judged to have displayed most successful design and functionality, robustness and reliability.
For more information about the DLG-Feldtage visit: www.dlg-feldtage.de
There is more information about the FRE at: www.fieldrobot.com/event/
Competition timings:
Tuesday 14 June – Navigation
Wednesday 15 June – Weed treatment/seeding (afternoon)
Thursday 16 June – Freestyle (morning)
Thursday 16 June – FRE Junior competition (afternoon)
