Automation and robotics for agricultural machines and implements in technologically advanced and precision agriculture contexts

The group skills regard technologies for precision farming, automation and robotics for agricultural machinery both for open field and greenhouse cropping systems.

The areas of interest include:

• prescription maps creation through automatic monitoring systems by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones) and field sensors
• Sensors, actuators, devices and machines for precision and variable rate applications
• Advanced technological solutions for sprayers, seeders, soil tillage and harvest machines
• Adoption of electrical actuators for traction and agricultural operations
• Robot machines for greenhouse and nurseries
• Computer vision for precision agriculture and robotics applications.

• "New technical and operative solutions for the use of drones in Agriculture 4.0"(PRIN 2017) Funded by Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research

• "Optimization of implements by mission profile analysis for a more efficient agriculture" (PRIN 2015) Funded by Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research

• "Robotics and tools for plant traceability in flower nursery" (PRIN 2009) Funded by Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research

• "Automation and robotics for flower crops in greenhouse" (PRIN 2006) Funded by Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research

• "Robot systems for high value typical crops grown in greenhouses" (PRIN 2003) Funded by Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research

• "RobotSpray – Robot systems for crop protection products application" (2012-2014) Funded by POR-FESR 2007/2013

• "BioHarvester – Design of an integrated and innovative machine for aromatic plant cutting and harvesting with charachteristics of high sustainability" (2015) Funded by POR-FESR 2007/2013

• "Vitidrone - Drones for precision viticulture" (2013-2014) Funded by POR-FESR 2007/2013

• "Machine for a sustainable weed control in orchards" (2008) Funded by ENAMA

• "ISAFRUIT"

• "Multi-regional Solutions to improve the Environmental and Economic Sustainability of PIG manure
  management in the Regions of the Po and Veneto basin (SEES-PIG)" (2011-2014) Funded by AGER

• "Impreza – Livestock waste application in orchards for their delocalization in low animal density areas" (2008-2011) Funded by Regione Piemonte (Italy).

• Balsari P., Biglia A., Comba L., Sacco D., Eloi Alcatrao L., Varani M., Mattetti M., Barge P., Tortia C., Manzone M., Gay P., Ricauda Aimonino D. (2021). Performance analysis of a tractor-rotary harrow system under different working configurations. Biosystems Engineering, 202, 28-41.
• Comba L., Zaman S., Biglia A., Ricauda Aimonino D., Dabbene F., Gay P. (2020). Semantic interpretation and complexity reduction of 3D point clouds of vineyards. Biosystems Engineering, 197, 216-230.
• Comba L., Biglia A., Ricauda Aimonino D., Gay P. (2019). Unsupervised detection of vineyards by 3D point- cloud UAV photogrammetry for precision agriculture. Computers and Electronics In Agriculture, 155, 2018, pp.84-95
• Comba L., Gay P., Ricauda Aimonino D. (2016). Robot ensembles for grafting herbaceous crops, Biosystems Engineering, 146, 227-239
• Balsari P., Dinuccio E., Gioelli F., Airoldi G. (2015). Band spreader for the application of slurry solid fraction to orchard. Biosystems engineering. 136, 69-76

The research group collaborates with several companies in a context of collaborative research and technology transfer and many international research institutions (UPC, Spain; JKI, Germany; Wageningen University, The Netherlands).