Services

Testing and evaluating sensor devices

National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology  (INRIA)

Location

At user's premises

France

Arable farming

Food processing

Greenhouse

Horticulture

Tree Crops

Viticulture

The SOPHIA infrastructure will offer the possibility to test and evaluate the performance of a sensor device in a locally controlled environment. While our indoor facility provides a fully controlled environment (light, volume), all facilities in SOPHIA can be customised to test and evaluate the sensor device. The service consists of three main steps. First, the sensor device will be integrated into the facility. After that, the facility will be customised according to the final application of the sensor device. Then, the performance of the sensor device will be evaluated using quantitative and qualitative metrics. Comparison could be proposed as a complementary option to position the performance of the sensor device in relation to the current state of the technology available in SOPHIA.

Testing and evaluating the robot’s functionalities

National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology  (INRIA)

Location

At user's premises

France

Arable farming

Food processing

Greenhouse

Horticulture

Tree Crops

Viticulture

The SOPHIA infrastructure will offer the possibility to test and evaluate the performance of the robot’s functionalities in a locally controlled environment. While our indoor facility will offer a fully controlled environment (light, volume), all facilities at SOPHIA can be customised to test and evaluate the robot’s functionalities. The service consists of three main steps. The robot will be integrated into the facility. After that, the facility will be customised according to the functionality of the robot. Then, the performance of the robot’s functionalities will be tested and evaluated with quantitative and qualitative metrics.

Testing and evaluation of mobility algorithms with ground robots

National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology  (INRIA)

Location

At user's premises

France

Arable farming

Food processing

Greenhouse

Horticulture

Tree Crops

Viticulture

The SOPHIA infrastructure provides the ability to test and evaluate mobility algorithms embedded on a ground robot. Mobility algorithms concern the classical robotics functionalities of mapping, localisation, SLAM, and navigation. The ground robot is equipped with an array of sensors, including a camera, LiDAR, IMU, and RTK-GPS for ground truth evaluation. The service proceeds in three stages. Firstly, we evaluate the algorithm using representative datasets. After that, the algorithm is integrated into a ROS2 architecture and evaluated with the local agrifoodTEF test infrastructure (various areas are possible). The performance of different attributes of the algorithm is assessed using quantitative and qualitative metrics. Benchmarking could be proposed as a complementary option to position the performance of the proposed algorithm in relation to the current state of the art. The final step involves field testing under real conditions at a specific end-user or customer site using the mobile living lab, which consists of a mobile laboratory deployed in the field and connected to the real robot for monitoring and evaluation purposes.

Testing and evaluation of mobility algorithms with aerial robots

National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology  (INRIA)

Location

At user's premises

France

Arable farming

Food processing

Greenhouse

Horticulture

Tree Crops

Viticulture

The SOPHIA infrastructure will offer the possibility to test and evaluate the mobility algorithms embedded on an aerial robot. Mobility algorithms concern the classical robotics functionalities of mapping, localisation, SLAM, and navigation. The aerial robot is equipped with an array of sensors, including a camera, LiDAR, IMU, and RTK-GPS (for ground truth evaluation). The service consists of three main steps. To begin with, the algorithm is evaluated using representative datasets. After that, the algorithm is integrated into a ROS2 architecture and evaluated with the local agrifoodTEF test infrastructure (various areas are possible). The performance of different attributes of the algorithm is evaluated using quantitative and qualitative metrics. Benchmarking could be proposed as a complementary option to position the performance of the proposed algorithm in relation to the current state of the art. The final step involves field testing under real conditions at a specific end-user or customer site using the mobile living lab (which consists of a mobile laboratory deployed in the field and connected to the real robot for monitoring and evaluation purposes).

Testing of activity measurement of an animal health monitoring system

Raumberg Gumpenstein Research & Development (RGRD)

Location

Austria

Livestock farming

Evaluating a health monitoring system for cattle using visual observation involves comparing the data from the system with direct observations of the cattle. This can include noting behaviours like eating, drinking, resting, or movement patterns and correlating these with the data provided by the system, such as activity levels or physiological signs. Observations are carried out systematically and cover various times and conditions. This process helps verify the accuracy of the monitoring system and assesses its effectiveness in detecting health and behavioural changes in cattle.

Testing of AI-based sensor performance

Josephinum Research (JR)

Location

At user's premises

Austria

Arable farming

Horticulture

Tree Crops

Viticulture

Our service thoroughly evaluates AI-based sensors by measuring key metrics like accuracy, mean squared error, and other tailored parameters. Testing is conducted in real-world environments where the sensor will be used, with reference data recorded or labelled for analysis. For certain sensors, we also utilise benchmark datasets to validate performance. We assess consistency under identical conditions, adaptability to environmental changes (e.g., light, temperature, or weather), and improvements in accuracy over time. Additionally, we measure power consumption, processing efficiency, and memory usage to ensure optimal resource utilisation. Response time between detection and action is evaluated for real-time applications, while extreme condition testing (e.g., bright light, rainy conditions, compacted soil) ensures robustness in challenging environments. We also verify data security and resilience against adversarial attacks. This comprehensive testing is essential, ensuring sensors meet high standards of precision, reliability, and efficiency. Benchmark datasets, standardised data collections used for validation, provide a reliable baseline for performance comparison. By addressing these aspects, our service ensures your sensor technology is ready for real-world deployment, delivering the performance and adaptability your application demands.

Testing of AI solutions and robotics with access to a private 5G network

Chambre d'Agriculture des Pays de Loire (CAPDL)

Location

France

Arable farming

Livestock farming

At the Derval Experimental Farm, we offer a unique service allowing businesses to test their AI and robotics solutions using our dedicated private 5G network. Our farm provides an ideal environment to assess the performance of cutting-edge technologies in real-world conditions. This service includes a comprehensive setup phase, where we configure your solution to seamlessly integrate with our private 5G infrastructure. Additionally, you will receive technical support throughout the testing period to ensure smooth operations and optimise your results. Whether you're working on precision agriculture, autonomous machinery, or IoT applications, our expert team is here to assist you every step of the way. Unlock the full potential of your AI and robotics innovations with the power of private 5G at the Derval Experimental Farm!

Testing of autonomous carrier & implement integration

Josephinum Research (JR)

Location

At user's premises

Austria

Arable farming

Horticulture

Tree Crops

Viticulture

Evaluating an agricultural implement on an autonomous carrier platform involves more than just numerical metrics; it includes a qualitative analysis of various aspects. We assess work quality by examining performance under different agricultural conditions, including, among others, different soil moisture levels, varying crop densities, and sloped terrain. Safety evaluations consider system robustness in various scenarios. Functionality assessments measure adaptability in dynamic environments, accounting for sudden weather changes and unexpected challenges.

Testing of biomass and yield estimation

Josephinum Research (JR)

Location

At user's premises

Austria

Remote

Arable farming

Our testing service assesses the accuracy of your system's biomass estimation capabilities. You can opt to evaluate your model virtually using existing datasets, such as satellite or image data, or we can gather new field data with our field sampling equipment specifically for your needs. The main targeted crops of the biomass estimation are grassland as well as clover and alfalfa, but also grain crops are possible. As yield and biomass are highly correlated in grassland, both can be determined with this test. We provide results using metrics like Pearson correlation/R-squared and MSE/MAE to give you a clear picture of your model's performance.

Testing of field navigation

Josephinum Research (JR)

Location

At user's premises

Austria

Arable farming

Horticulture

Tree Crops

Viticulture

Our service evaluates the navigation accuracy and performance of autonomous systems directly in the field. We conduct comprehensive tests under real-world conditions to ensure that your system navigates precisely and efficiently. This testing is crucial for startups and SMEs developing innovative solutions that require dependable autonomous navigation capabilities.

Testing of physical systems with embedded AI or robots

Institut de l'elevage (IDELE)

Location

France

Arable farming

Livestock farming

This service is designed to facilitate the testing and evaluation of cutting-edge technologies with embedded AI and robotics. This service provides companies with access to state-of-the-art infrastructure tailored for testing physical systems in real-world agricultural environments. From autonomous robots to AI-driven breeding tools, the service offers both technical support and comprehensive testing facilities, enabling the validation of these innovations under practical conditions. This ensures that new technologies meet the stringent demands of modern farming practices. Our team will provide expert guidance and support throughout the testing process, helping customers to make the most use of our facilities, ensuring security, and adequate exploitation.

Testing of reticulo-ruminal motility measuring systems

Raumberg Gumpenstein Research & Development (RGRD)

Location

Austria

Livestock farming

Testing of the ability of rumen bolus sensors to measure ruminal motility using a pressure transducer in rumen-fistulated cows. This service is designed for companies developing cattle health technologies, providing reliable, scientific validation of sensor performance. Our approach ensures that bolus sensors accurately measure rumen motility, essential for assessing cattle health and feed efficiency.