Tim Sutcliffe and Mitchell Hampton with the C-Dax Pasture Meter robot.
Does the future of farming have autonomous robots in our fields? Massey researchers think it does, and they are showcasing the future of farming at the C-Dax stand at National Fieldays.
Massey's Mitchell Hampton and Tim Sutcliffe are showing off the new and improved C-Dax Pasture Meter Robot on the C-Dax stand (F-27).
Currently, pasture metres are towed by people in vehicles, this would see them move autonomously. The robot precisely measures pasture, which saves labour costs, reduces land over-fertilisation, and is also electric, reducing the impact on the environment.
The Massey mechatronics graduates, turned Massey researchers will be working with C-Dax after Fieldays on field trials at Massey University’s farms to develop a commercial model of the robot.
“The application of this is huge,” says Mr Sutcliffe. “Measuring pastures using the pasture meter and towing it yourself uses about six hours a week on average. So if we can get a robot to do that, it will save man hours, fuel and time.
“As researchers at Massey University, we have been working on this project for a while now. Working with C-Dax to develop a rugged, high-tech agricultural robot has been a great experience.”