SCORPION
Cost effective robots for smart precision spraying
Challenge
The SCORPION project is part of the Horizon 2020 program of the European Commission. This program tries to address the negative impact of agricultural sprays on the environment and human and animal health.
In addition, steep and uneven terrain presents challenges due to steep slopes, reduced manoeuvring space and adverse weather conditions. There is, therefore, a demand for methods that increase both the yield and the effectiveness of land treatment.
For this, there must be greater availability of the spraying system (reducing labour costs) and a reduction in losses and the number of phytopharmaceuticals to be used and the use of water and exposure to pesticides.
Solution
The main objective is to develop autonomous robots to spray mountain vines without wasting chemicals, with environmental and economic advantages.
Currently, the solutions are based essentially on sprayers coupled to tractors, controlled mainly by the tractor driver.
SCORPION seeks to develop an autonomous robot, which circulates alone even in vineyards with sharp declines and calculates the number of phytopharmaceuticals to be applied through sensors that measure the density of the plantation. This solution also uses UV radiation to reduce chemicals in treatments, which translates into environmental and economic benefits.
Robotic technology will be modular, that is, flexible and adaptable. It will include advanced navigation, location and security solutions, which allow the robot to act autonomously, facing the child of terrains and the regulations of mountain terrains.
Objectives, Activities and Results expected / achieved
SCORPION is expected to contribute to a significant increase in agricultural productivity with environmentally positive processes, as well as an increase in safety and management of agricultural technology with a reduction in excess human workload.
Project Reference
Grant Agreement No 101004085Funding
Intervention Region
Portugal, Spain, Italy and NetherlandsTotal Investment
2.501.104,83IPN Investment
101.675,00Total Eligible
2.501.104,83IPN Eligible
101.675,00EC Funding – Total
2.270.606,00EC Funding – IPN
101.675,00Duration
31 MonthsStart Date
2020-11-01End Date
2023-05-11Approval Date
2020-11-04Consortium
INESC TEC - INESC Technology and ScienceDeimos Sspace Sociedad Limitada Unipersonal
KommTek - Intelligent solutions for lawncare
CERVIM - Centre for Research - Environmental Sustainability and Advancement of Mountain Viticulture
EUT - Fundació Eurecat
IMAMOTER - Institute for Agricultural and Earthmoving Machines
Instituto Pedro Nunes
Associació AEI
Sociedade Portuguesa de Inovação
Stichtinhg Wageningen Research
Website
https://scorpion-h2020.eu/Keywords
Global Satellite Navigation System (GNSS);Services & Application;
Robot;
Precision Spraying;
Agriculture.
