Farm Robotics Challenge
Welcome to the 2024 Farm Robotics Challenge: Where innovation meets agriculture.
Innovate. Automate. Cultivate.
Welcome to the Farm Robotics Challenge, where technology meets agriculture to solve real-world problems. This is not just a competition; it's a movement aimed at revolutionizing the future of farming. Whether you're a student, professor, university administrator, corporate entity, or an individual passionate about agriculture and robotics, there's a place for you here. Find out how you can be a part of this transformative experience.
The Farm Robotics Challenge is an annual, nationwide event that invites student teams from universities and colleges across the United States to develop innovative robotic solutions for real-world agricultural challenges. Organized by the AI Institute for Next Gen Food Systems (AIFS), UC ANR VINE, Fresno-Merced Future of Food (F3) Innovation, and Farm-ng, the challenge aims to accelerate the integration of cutting-edge robotics into agricultural practices.
This year, we're expanding our horizons by introducing a new division for 2-year colleges, making the challenge more inclusive and providing a broader platform for innovation. Participants will work with the state-of-the-art Amiga robot, focusing on small-farm applications to make a meaningful impact on local communities.
The challenge is divided into four main phases:
Team Formation
Assemble your multidisciplinary team and complete the registration process.
Research and Proposal
Conduct market research to identify a real-world agricultural problem and submit a detailed project proposal.
Development
Engage in the coding, fabrication, and initial testing of your robotic solution.
Presentation
Refine your prototype and present your solution to a panel of expert judges for evaluation.
Teams are expected to address a variety of production farming topics, ranging from any crop or size of farm. The challenges for the competition are categorized into three main areas: autonomy, artificial intelligence, and attachment. Judging will be based on a range of criteria including accuracy, design elegance, safety, interdisciplinary inclusion, societal impact, and commercial potential.
Autonomy
Navigate your robot through complex farm terrains autonomously.
Artificial Intelligence
Leverage AI to enhance your robot's vision and data collection capabilities.
Attachment
Design innovative attachments to perform specific farm tasks efficiently.
The Farm Robotics Challenge isn't just about innovation and learning; it's also about rewarding your hard work and creativity. We have an array of prizes designed to recognize excellence in various aspects of the competition.
Categories of Awards:
- Grand Prize: Awarded to the team that excels in all aspects of the challenge, from innovation to implementation.
- Elegance in Design: Celebrates to the team that excels in creating a well-designed, user-friendly solution..
- Complexity: Honors the team that tackles the most complex challenges with an advanced and intricate solution.
- Small Farm: Recognizes the team that creates a solution specifically tailored to the needs of small farms.
Additional Perks:
- Internship Opportunities: Top performers will be considered for internships.
- Conference Invitations: Winners will be invited to present their projects at leading agricultural and robotics conferences.
- Media Coverage: Exceptional projects will be featured in industry publications and media outlets.
Key Dates & Deadlines
Mark these important dates on your calendar
Date | Milestone |
Competition Opens | September 19, 2023 |
Team Formation/ Project Proposal Submission | December 18, 2023 |
Development Starts | January 31, 2024 |
Judging | September 6, 2024 |
Ready to Join the Challenge?
Fill out our interest form below, and we'll contact you with details on team formation, robot procurement, upcoming webinars, and other aspects of the challenge.
Get in touch with us
We're here to provide you with more information, answer any questions you may have, and assist you in becoming a part of the Farm Robotics Challenge. Whether you're a student, professor, university administrator, or potential sponsor, your involvement is crucial to the success of this challenge.