This changing phase of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology has also changed farming and farming to a great extent. Now the use of machines is being seen till the plowing of crops and even harvesting. To change this traditional farming, Punjab Agricultural University has taken another step towards digital agriculture. This university has developed a technology that will not only save farmers from working hard but will also make farming affordable. So let’s know what is this technology-
In fact, Ludhiana-based Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) has recently introduced a special type of driver-assisted tractor technology to the world. Which acts like a driverless tractor. Once you feed the data, no driver or driver will be needed to run it, but this tractor will continue to plow himself in the fields according to the already feed data. So that not only will farming be easier, but along with saving money, the carbon emissions in the environment will also be reduced.
What is this technology?
Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, explained this technique in a special conversation with Aaj Tak. He said, “This is a kind of global navigation satellite system (GNSS)-based auto-staring system. Which will change traditional farming methods in the coming time. This system includes a total of three components, which work together.”
The main 3 components of this system and their work
1. GPS
2. iPad or Tablet
3. Sensors
Components include a GNSS receiver for acuret positioning, a wheel angle sensor to track the speed of steering and a motorized steering unit. It has an ISOBUS-Compleint Console which provides advance facilities like auto headland turn, skip-r functionality and custom turn pattern. The operator can also switch between manual and automatic mode from the same button. That is, if the farmer wants to use this system automatically or to operate it manual, just one button will have to be pressed.
How does this technique work?
This auto-starring system is a satellite-guided, computer-disappointed automated tool, which is designed to work in the autonomous (to walk) the steering wheel while running the tractor. By combining the signals obtained from several satellites with a sensor and a touchscreen control console, this system directs tractors to accurate and already fixed the path. The special thing is that, it ensures uniform steering operation even in low light.
If you understand in easy words, after installing this system in a tractor, you will have to mapping your field (in which the tractor has to run) with the help of iPad. That is, in this you will have to feed all the information including length-width and location etc. of the field. After which you can remove this tractor in the field. Once before starting the work, the driver will have to handle the steering wheel, after that the tractor can plow the entire field itself.
If the farmer wants to use a tractor equipped with this technology in more than one field, then he will have to do separate mapping for every field. He can admits different fields according to different names in the system such as Field-1 or Field-2. Once feeding the mapping data, there will be no need to repeat this process again and again.
What kind of tractor will this technique be installed?
Dr. Satbir explains that, “This system can be easily installed in a tractor in any way. There is no such limit that, whether it is installed in a special engine capacity tractor. Whether it is a small tractor or big, this system can be used in everyone. This system has been tested with all kinds of tractors, in which it has done better.”
As far as agricultural equipment connected to the tractor is concerned, Dr. Satbir says that, “This system can easily run a tractor equipped with all kinds of equipment. At present, the research department has conducted it by operating it with rotavator, hal, harrow, harrows and cultivators. The system will work better. The performance of the tractor is not affected in any way.
How much will be spent
Dr. Satbir says that, now we are importing the components used in this system from outside. Due to which its cost is high. To install this system in any tractor, its expenditure will be around 3 to 4 lakh rupees. But in the coming time, when these components start getting us at local level, then its price will be reduced.
What will be the benefit?
Regarding the benefits of this technology, Dr. Satbir says that, where the farmer works for about 7-8 hours in plowing the fields by common tractors. With the help of this system, farmers will not need to work so much in the scorching heat. Apart from this, the consumption of diesel is also high in traditional tractors on repeated brakes and clutch applying. But this system is designed in such a way that, it helps to run the tractor at a fixed speed and with the help of sensors, it already guesses the corneers (turns) coming to the field and applies the brake by reducing the speed. Due to which fuel consumption is also reduced.
Work will be done in every corner of the farm
Usually, where some kind of work is taken in the field by manually operated tractors, some parts of the field (especially on corneers or corners) are missed. This system has performed brilliantly in this recently done by Punjab Agricultural University. Where with manual steering, field devices such as disc harrows, cultivators, rotavator and PAU-smart cedar showed overlap between 3 and 12 percent. At the same time, with the auto-staring system, these overlap decreased by about 1 percent. The missing areas decreased from 2 to 7 percent to less than 1 percent. That is, it is clear that this system will work with great accuracy in every corner of the farm.
Dr. Satbir explains that, “We are now testing, this technology will be showcased in front of farmers in the coming September. This two -day Faror Fair, which runs for two days, comes to about 1.5 to 2 lakh farmers, which will be displayed in front of which this technology will be displayed. If farmers like this technology, then work will be done on it.”
Finally, Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal said that this system reflects the decisive effort of PAU towards digital change in the agriculture sector. He said that the university is not only adopting technology only for innovation, but is adopting it as an essential change to keep farming profitable, efficient and durable. He said that digital equipment like auto-starring will not only help in increasing productivity, but it will also help reduce the physical burden on farmers.
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