The Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Coimbra (FCTUC) is coordinating a European project that aims to develop robotics and machine learning for digital agriculture.
The “Artificial Intelligence and sensor-fusion systems in sustainable (Green) robotics for precision agriculture (AIGreenBots)” will last four years and will be financed by the Horizonte Europa MSCA-DN Program with a global value of 2.5 million euros.
In collaboration with institutions from Spain, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, the “AIGreenBots” project aims to develop new platforms for agro-botsrobotic perception and sensor fusion systems, testing agricultural robotics systems, but also addressing safety issues and important aspects of legislation.
«This project is a Doctoral Network Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) that will implement multidisciplinary learning, career development and research for nine international doctoral students», explains the project coordinator, Cristiano Premebida, professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (DEEC) and researcher at the Institute of Systems and Robotics (ISR) at FCTUC.
«Through an international and complementary partnership with top universities, research centers and stakeholders related to agriculture, from different countries, this Doctoral Network aims to provide skills and knowledge necessary to face one of the main challenges of our society and the environment: agricultural robotics for precision/digital agriculture», describes the project coordinator.
By engaging students in a research paradigm for industrial exploration, “AIGreenBots” brings together academic and non-academic participants from diverse areas, namely robotics, automation, remote sensing for precision agriculture, reliable artificial intelligence (AI) and probabilistic machine learning, systems engineering, probabilistic inference, sensor fusion, security and real-world deployment of agricultural robotics.
«Currently, in Europe, there are no PhD programs focused on robotics-agriculture that expose students to such broad concepts and experiences as this, but there is an increasing need for this type of research. Upon completion of the project, researchers will be fully qualified to conduct interdisciplinary investigations at an international level», assures the project coordinator at UC.
In this way, concludes the FCTUC professor, «the “AIGreenBots” structure will serve as a European platform for excellent doctoral training in intelligent robotics for precision/automated agriculture and digital agriculture».
Tags: University Coimbra coordinates European project aims develop robotics machine learning digital agriculture
