SMART-E is not a chocolate drop!

To provide sufficient food, energy and raw materials for mankind in the future the agricultural sector in particular is called upon. In a future world of intelligent and communicating machinery there will be, depending on the respective work to be done, on the one hand efficient high-performance machinery and on the other hand small, fully automated units like robots.

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“As a manufacturer of agricultural engineering we have to seize new trends and technologies to be in a position to offer in the future as well products that modern farmers will require” Dr. Benno Pichlmaier, responsible for research and advanced engineering at AGCO/Fendt, affirms. “Beside renowned partners from universities and research institutions AGCO is the only representative from industry to participate in the research syndicate SMART-E”. SMART-E is a Europe-wide research project which addresses Advanced Robotics Technologies. Under the Marie-Curie Fellowship Program of the European Union young researchers are trained in the field of robotics technology. The young scientists profit from Fendt, as the company provides specific issues and practical applications for possible products. „The project SMART-E funded by the EU unites international robotic experts to a network. This way the highly electrifying findings can be integrated first-hand in the development of future products“, explains Dr. Benno Pichlmaier the reasons for AGCO/Fendt to participate in the project.

In this symbiosis of academic research and practice-oriented application AGCO/Fendt enables a young scientist to work in the Fendt development team. In the field of agricultural robotics work focuses on a variety of topics. There are particular challenges resulting from the combination of complex sensor technology, e.g. for plant recognition under constantly changing ambient conditions like temperature, weather and soil. The required technology has to stand the test of time reliably during rough daily operation and the control algorithms have to conduct the entire orchestra of sensors, actuators and data communication in a flawless and above all safe way.

AGCO/Fendt has made the next step forward with SMART-E. The vision of sustainable agriculture by advanced robotic technology motivates the scientists and the Fendt engineers to continue providing excellent products for the farmers.