Advancing automation in the agricultural working environment

Through recent advance in automation technology, agricultural processes are increasingly able to be applied to more complex applications through greater capacity in machine perception. Research at the University of Southern Queensland has tackled some of the important processes practised in agriculture with new techniques for sensing and automation. Extensive programs of research and development have led to new automated processes. Examples described for weeding, irrigation and the development of autonomous tractors and UAVs are discussed. The resulting new systems have been applied successfully in practice and are relevant to sugarcane growers. In a short review of the new capabilities the paper points to the path of technology development that will enable more widespread benefits of automation in agriculture to improve productivity in the sugarcane industry. Key words Agriculture, food, automation, robotics, sensing