Old MacDonald had an upgrade – Robotic Control beyond the industry
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How versatile modern industrial IT can be is shown by this application example from agricultural engineering: |
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Smart agriculture – robotics & IT withstand harsh conditions |
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Rugged Robotic Controllers operate autonomous agricultural drones. Vehicle mount computers in tractors provide real-time data and full control to the driver. |
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 Smart farming places high demands on utilized technology – dust, moisture, heat, cold, vibration and shocks are part of everyday life. High-performance and highly networked systems need to be used under these harsh conditions. |
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To ensure smooth operation, they have to perform demanding tasks – reliably, precisely and economically. This project is about specialized agricultural drones that mainly operate autonomously. They are used for tasks such as soil measurements, sowing, fertilizing, crop monitoring and field mapping. |
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 Cameras and sensors constantly transmit data. At the same time, navigation and the various physical tasks of the drones are precisely controlled. Data, maps and images are forwarded to the main system as well as to harvesters and tractor drivers in the field. |
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Depending on the mission, telemetry and range, drones and machines communicate with the control system via radio technologies such as LTE/4G/5G, WLAN, ISM, LoRa or proprietary protocols. Winmate supplies the Rugged Robotic Controller as the central operating unit. These are particularly robust, compact industrial computers in a robust housing with touchscreen, joysticks and function keys. Requirements:
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With the Rugged Robotic Controller G101TG, all requirements could be met. The control software runs under Windows 11 (or Linux). WLAN, Bluetooth and LTE/4G/5G are integrated in the controller. Thanks to the modular I/O connection (e.g. USB), external wireless modules and software protocols can be easily integrated. Features:
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That’s how the autonomous drones are managed with the Rugged Robotic Controller – directly in the field or on the tractor, exposed to rain, dust, summer heat, frost, vibrations and shocks. |
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Vehicle Mount Computers in the tractors |
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 Furthermore, a vehicle mount computer was installed on each tractor. It is integrated into the overall radio-networked system and serves as a robust interface for operation, navigation and communication – directly from the driver’s cab. |
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These goals were achieved:
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By using this system, farmers can increase their productivity, minimize downtime and work more relaxed. They save costs, working time and operating resources and reduce environmental pollution. |
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Conclusion – What does this example show?
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Whether industrial robots, drones or tractors: the Rugged Robotic Controllers show what modern industrial computers can perform – even in seemingly unusual environments. All with the same proven reliability and precision as in typical industrial applications. Are you looking for a mobility solution for your company? Our experts will be happy to advise you! |
