^{Press release State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology (LfULG)}

At the 2nd Köllitsch Field Robotics Day today, September 17, 2024, farmers and representatives from science and industry will meet at the Köllitsch Training and Experimental Farm (district of North Saxony) to discuss the latest developments in field robotics, possible applications and the benefits of the technology for agriculture. The event was jointly organized by the Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology (LfULG) with the TUD Dresden University of Technology and the Fraunhofer Institute for Transportation and Infrastructure Systems IVI.

Participants can experience a variety of robots in use in arable farming and fruit growing during practical demonstrations. The areas of application range from soil cultivation to the application of pesticides and the mowing of grassland. Scientists from the Chair of Argar Systems Technology at the TUD will be presenting the autonomous fruit and wine-growing robot elWObot II and the field swarm with TK 100 on Field Robotics Day. Both applications will also be in use as part of the field demonstrations. To control and monitor the CERES field robot from the Fraunhofer IVI, researchers from the Vodafone Chair of Mobile Communications Systems will provide a 5G campus network at the Köllitsch teaching and research farm.

In addition to the practical part, there will be several presentations at the Field Robotics Day. These will cover topics such as the current legal basis for the use and functional safety of autonomous machines. Manufacturers and dealers will explain the benefits of the new technologies to participants. And finally, two practical farms will report on their experiences with the introduction and use of field robots on their land in the Leipzig area.

Field robots are not yet in widespread use in Germany. However, modern technologies can support farmers and companies with the challenges that agriculture is already facing today. Field robots help to reduce the use of pesticides, protect the soil during cultivation and cause fewer emissions than conventional technology.

Contact

Dr. Isabel Raabe
Project Management Experimental Field Land Network
TUD Dresden University of Technology
Vodafone Chair of Mobile Communications Systems
+49(351)463 41024

Karin Bernhardt
State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology
+49 351 2612 9002