# Episode Seven - Agricultural Robotics: Farming for the future

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2021-04-30
- Length: 28m
- Episode: 7
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-04-30-episode-seven-agricultural-robotics-farming-for-the-future
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/episode-seven-agricultural-robotics-farming-for-the-future

## Summary

Dr Petra Bosilj of the University of Lincoln explains that robotic vision in agriculture is bottlenecked by a lack of annotated training data for complex tasks like distinguishing weeds from crops, though precision spraying can reduce herbicide use by 80%. Chris Chavasse, founder of Muddy Machines, describes his startup's development of lightweight, swarm-capable field robots for harvesting tender stem broccoli, designed to reduce soil compaction compared to heavy industrial machinery. The episode contrasts academic research into phenotyping and soil health with the commercial challenges of building rugged, soft-robotic end effectors and securing funding during the pandemic.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-04-30-episode-seven-agricultural-robotics-farming-for-the-future#t=7) Introduction and Episode 9 Announcement
- [1:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-04-30-episode-seven-agricultural-robotics-farming-for-the-future#t=94) Dr Petra Bosilj on Agri-Robotics Tasks and Vision Challenges
- [6:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-04-30-episode-seven-agricultural-robotics-farming-for-the-future#t=401) Precision Agriculture, Soil Monitoring, and Data Bottlenecks
- [13:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-04-30-episode-seven-agricultural-robotics-farming-for-the-future#t=826) Autonomous Combine Harvesters and Safety Frameworks
- [16:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-04-30-episode-seven-agricultural-robotics-farming-for-the-future#t=971) Chris Chavasse and Muddy Machines: Farmyard Environment Challenges
- [18:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-04-30-episode-seven-agricultural-robotics-farming-for-the-future#t=1128) Muddy Machines Startup Journey, Team, and Funding
- [21:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-04-30-episode-seven-agricultural-robotics-farming-for-the-future#t=1295) Harvesting Field Vegetables, Yield Prediction, and Soil Health
- [25:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-04-30-episode-seven-agricultural-robotics-farming-for-the-future#t=1544) Future of Robotic Farms: Swarms and Modern Shepherds

## Topics

- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- University of Lincoln (company)
- Muddy Machines (company)
- Canaga Robotics (company)
- Dyson (company)
- Deliveroo (company)
- First Lego League (other)
- RoboCup Junior (other)
- NASA (company)
- John Chen of Corbury Farm (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [47. Robotic Farming Makes Produce Better & Cheaper](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-12-07-47-robotic-farming-makes-produce-better-cheaper) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [153. Robot Farmers Bring Back Biodiversity](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-12-19-153-robot-farmers-bring-back-biodiversity) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [44. How Computer Vision Is Changing Your World](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-11-16-44-how-computer-vision-is-changing-your-world) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Willy Pell from Blue River Technology brings AI to the farm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-04-15-willy-pell-from-blue-river-technology-brings-ai-to-the-farm) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Getting Out of the Weeds with John Deere's Revolutionary AI Technology](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2023-06-13-getting-out-of-the-weeds-with-john-deeres-revolutionary-ai-technology) (Moore's Lobby)

## Citing this page

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