The three steps every agro robot performs.
Despite their variety, almost every agricultural robot follows the same pattern: sense the environment, decide what to do, and act physically on the world. What changes between a weeding robot and a fruit picker is the sensors and actuators involved.
1. Sense
GNSS receivers, IMUs, wheel encoders, and LiDAR localize the robot. Cameras, multispectral sensors, and soil probes describe the immediate environment: row spacing, weed density, fruit ripeness, soil moisture.
2. Decide
Onboard processors and edge AI models convert raw sensor data into decisions: turn left, stop, activate hoe, spray patch, pick fruit. Decisions are constrained by safety rules, energy limits, and task priorities.
3. Act
Drivetrains, steering, robotic arms, grippers, sprayers, seeders, and cutters execute the decision. Feedback sensors confirm completion or trigger replanning.
Why loops matter
Farm environments are messy. Soil moisture changes, plants sway, animals move. Robots close the loop continuously so a single missed detection does not lead to a single missed action.