Farmers in Cornwall are testing a cutting-edge technology that could help assess soil health more quickly and efficiently, with the hope of increasing farm profitability. A trial involving a robot equipped with a gamma ray detector is being conducted by scientists from the University of Plymouth in collaboration with Cornish farmer Malcolm Barrett. The device, developed by local robotics company Robotriks, is designed to measure the quality of soil by detecting naturally occurring radiation levels, offering a faster alternative to traditional soil analysis methods.
Farmer Malcolm Barrett, who works on land near Bodmin, said the technology could significantly improve soil monitoring. Typically, Barrett uses a trowel to take soil samples from multiple locations in his fields, then sends them to a laboratory for testing, a process that can take time and money. He hopes that the new robotic system will not only speed up the process but also provide more accurate data to help make better decisions for farm management.
The £25,000 gamma detector mounted on a robot dog is capable of mapping soil health in real-time. The robot dog, designed by Robotriks, is lightweight (15kg) and can move at a speed of 5 meters per second. Its four legs allow it to navigate difficult terrain, such as hills and hedgerows, where traditional machinery or human labor may struggle.
Jake Shaw-Sutton, co-director of Robotriks, explained that soil health often goes unnoticed, even though it significantly impacts crop yields and farm productivity. The robot dog, he said, could provide valuable insights into soil properties that are usually difficult to assess, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
Will Blake from the University of Plymouth added that the goal of the trial is to create detailed soil maps that farmers can use for informed decision-making. He noted that conventional soil assessments are often expensive and time-consuming, with farmers typically only able to afford a few samples per field. By using robots and gamma ray technology, the hope is to revolutionize soil health monitoring, making it more accessible and efficient for farmers.
This trial is part of a broader effort to integrate robotics and advanced technology into agriculture, potentially improving sustainability and profitability in the farming industry.