Field Integration and Validation of AgTech Solutions on Mobile Robotic Platforms

Access to this fleet transforms a major logistical barrier into a strategic advantage. Before the service: Testing AgTech innovations in real agricultural conditions is costly and complex. You may have highly developed components or code, but you lack the specialised autonomous platforms needed to validate them against the unpredictability of real-world environments. After the service: you secure actionable data to validate your solution’s overall efficiency and operational reliability: • For hardware integration: you can accurately evaluate the mechanical resistance and physical interaction of new sensors or implements on a moving chassis. • For software validation: you can rigorously test detection, trajectory planning, and obstacle avoidance algorithms facing the variability of living systems. Ultimately, this user-centred approach provides your investors and clients with the guarantee of a field-proven technology, maximising your chances of commercial success.

The service is delivered through a straightforward, three-step collaborative process: 1. Collaborative Installation: Our engineers collaborate closely with your team to physically install your hardware or integrate your software with our robots. We ensure everything is prepared to meet the specific objectives established during our initial discussions. 2. Field Testing: Active field trials generally last between 1 and 3 days. To maintain safety and effectiveness throughout the process, a manufacturer technical representative must be on-site at all times. 3. Outcomes & Analysis: We provide a performance report that integrates the data from the robot with the logs from your system (such as navigation logs, telemetry, and processing load). We ensure strict intellectual property protection for all your proprietary code, sensor information, and test logs. Logistics & Planning: Testing can be conducted at the INRAE AgroTechnoPôle facilities (Montoldre, France) or on selected partner farms. Please note that winter testing campaigns may be severely restricted by weather and soil conditions; customers should plan accordingly.

Our service precisely adapts to your specific R&D and validation cycle. Key customisation options include: Core Customisation Options: *Complex maneuvers: Evaluation of system performance in difficult scenarios (turnarounds, steep inclines, GPS-denied areas) to assess the resilience of your algorithms. *Enhanced Diagnostics: Utilising external metrology tools like laser trackers for high-precision qualification and conducting load analysis to assist you in optimising your code. *Platform & Environment: Selection of propulsion method (wheels or tracks), robot dimensions, and testing conditions (controlled tracks or actual field situations) customised to fit your specific use case. *Hardware and Dimension Compatibility: Our fleet includes a variety of platform sizes, from compact robots to large, tractor-scale autonomous platforms for agricultural implements and heavy payloads. We will verify compatibility for dimensions, weight, and mounting during the initial collaborative preparation phase.