Smart technology transforming today’s farming – planting and sowing robots are game-changers

Among the smart technology transforming today’s farming, planting and sowing robots stand out as game-changers. From autonomous tractors to drones, these machines offer precision, efficiency and sustainability in crop cultivation, reshaping how we approach planting and sowing. 

In this blog, we explore the various types of these robots, showcasing eight great examples that demonstrate what’s possible on farms today.

Types of planting and seeding robots

These robots can generally be divided into the following categories:

Autonomous tractor robots

These are essentially self-driving tractors equipped with sophisticated navigation and positioning systems. Capable of performing a wide range of agricultural tasks, including precise seeding and planting, they operate without human intervention. Using GPS and sensors, they can navigate fields with centimetre-level accuracy, ensuring optimal seed placement and spacing.

Aerial seeding drones

Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are revolutionising planting techniques, especially in challenging terrains. These agile machines can disperse seeds over vast areas quickly and efficiently, making them invaluable for reforestation projects, large-scale grain farming and even restoring ecosystems in disaster-affected regions. Some models can also assess soil conditions and adapt seeding patterns accordingly.

Robotic arm planters

Designed for precision and delicacy, these robots use articulated arms to handle individual seedlings or seeds. They excel in controlled environments like greenhouses, nurseries and indoor vertical farms. With their ability to gently manipulate plants, they’re ideal for transplanting fragile seedlings and other tasks requiring a soft touch. Some models also incorporate optical sensors to assess plant health during the planting process.

Swarm robot planters

Employing the principle of distributed intelligence, swarm planting systems use multiple small robots working in co-ordination. These compact units can navigate between crop rows, adapting to field conditions and obstacles. Their collective effort allows for rapid coverage of large areas with consistent accuracy. The swarm approach also provides resilience, as the failure of one unit doesn’t halt the entire operation.

Specialised crop-specific robots

These robots can perform a variety of tasks, including:

• Precision seed drilling at controlled depths
• Creating optimal soil conditions for each seed
• Handling crops with special planting needs
• Applying fertilisers or other soil additives during the planting process.

They are often used in high-value crop cultivation like orchards or vineyards. Some models can also perform multiple tasks, such as planting, pruning, weeding and even selective harvesting, maximising efficiency throughout the growing season.

Eight great examples of planting and sowing robots

1. FarmDroid FD20 by FarmDroid

This is a solar-powered field robot designed for seeding and weeding with high precision using real-time kinematics (RTK) GPS. It autonomously marks the position of each plant during seeding and performs both inter-row and intra-row weed control. The robot eliminates the need for dedicated seeding systems and manual weeding, making it a cost-effective solution. It operates independently, notifying the farmer only if deviations occur. Additionally, the FarmDroid FD20 is lightweight – and so preserves the soil’s microstructure – and can be monitored via an app.

Source: Farmdroid FD20

2. Fendt Xaver by AGCO

The Fendt Xaver is an autonomous farming robot under development by AGCO (under the Fendt brand), incorporating Apex.OS software from Apex.AI. This software enables the robot to plant seeds with centimetre precision 24 hours a day, using 90% less energy than conventional machines due to its lightweight electric design. The robot’s real-time autonomous functions are based on automotive industry standards, and it is controlled through a cloud-connected app that provides real-time data on location, status and diagnostics. This partnership with Apex.AI has allowed AGCO to integrate advanced autonomous driving components, enhancing the robot’s capabilities and reducing R&D timelines.

3. AgBot 5.115T2 by AgXeed

This robot offers a versatile solution for agricultural tasks, including seedbed preparation and seeding. When seeding, it has a speed of 8–12 km/h and is suitable for clay soils on flat-to-light slopes. The intuitive application allows users to set up, manage and control the robot, while also gathering field data, ensuring efficient operation.

Customers have reported significant labour savings, fuel economy and lower maintenance costs, resulting in a 25–35% reduction in Total Cost of Ownership compared to conventional tractors. The AgBot is easy to maintain, requiring only weekly oil changes and air-filter cleaning.

Source: Agxeed

4. Oz by Naïo Technologies

The Oz robot can be used for seeding, as well as hoeing, weeding, making furrows and transporting crops. It operates in three modes: 1: autonomously using RTK GPS guidance, 2: ‘follow-me’ mode (it’ll follow you wherever you go), and 3: by remote control. This robot allows for precise and efficient seeding, freeing up time for other tasks and reducing production losses. Users have reported significant time savings and cleaner rows, demonstrating that Oz is a valuable tool for agricultural operations.

Source: Naio technologies

5. RoamIO-HCT by Korechi

Korechi offer three different RoamIO robots for particular applications, with the company’s flagship being the RoamIO-HCT. It is a tracked farming robot designed to autonomously navigate fields and perform various agricultural tasks, including seeding. This robot reduces the labour needed for repetitive tasks, allowing farmers to focus on other activities. Equipped with cameras, LiDAR and AI, it ensures worker safety through advanced obstacle detection. The RoamIO-HCT can be remotely operated using a tablet, with options for local Wi-Fi or remote cloud connections. Its robust construction and versatile features make it ideally suited to modern farming, enhancing productivity and safety.

Source: Korechi

6. Drones by AirSeed

AirSeed says “We don’t just plant trees, we restore ecosystems”. Rather than focusing solely on drone tech, the company uses advanced hardware and software technology, combined with data-driven intelligence and scientific methodologies, to enhance the scalability and effectiveness of biodiverse planting projects.

Their approach goes beyond just planting trees; they offer a comprehensive service that includes exploring funding options, assessing project viability, preparing and planting land, and providing secure, accessible project data.

Their innovative use of drones for seeding is a key component, allowing for precise and efficient planting, which significantly boosts the success rate of environmental restoration efforts. The company’s drones can plant seeds 25 times faster than manual methods, by dropping up to 40,000 seed pods a day in remote, hazardous or inaccessible areas.

7. ISO Vision Planter by ISO Horti Innovators

The ISO Vision Planter is designed for transplanting and pruning young plants in horticulture. It automates the process of moving plants from their original growing location to their final planting spot using a robotic arm. It is claimed to be easy to operate with low maintenance costs.

The machine is able to detect and skip any empty positions, ensuring that only actual plants are transplanted, which increases efficiency and saves planting material. Additionally, the system allows for adjustable capacity based on the user’s needs and the type of planting material, making it a versatile tool for various horticultural applications.

Source: ISO Horti Innovators

8. Steward by Sabanto

This tech adapts a traditional tractor to operate autonomously. Alongside seeding, other applicable tasks include mowing, roto-tilling, rolling and aerating. The system is designed to handle mundane tasks on a tractor, using cameras, obstacle detection sensors, global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) and robotics, all controlled via Sabanto’s Vehicle Mission Control (vMC) app. With vMC, you can map out field operations, select the necessary tractor and its implement, and create a coverage plan. Multiple missions can be run simultaneously and you can monitor them in real-time from any device. This technology aims to increase productivity, reduce labour issues and enhance sustainability in agricultural operations.

Robots: the way forward

The examples above demonstrate that the world of planting and sowing robots is diverse and rapidly advancing. These innovative machines offer solutions to many challenges faced by modern agriculture, from labour shortages to the need for increased precision and sustainability. Whether it’s for growing crops in fields, greenhouses or vertical farms, or restoring forests, each of these robots brings unique capabilities.

As the technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more sophisticated and efficient planting solutions, further transforming agriculture and contributing to a more sustainable and productive future for farming.