Allart Martinet, Business Developper at Precision Makers, presents the autonomous vehicles applications for agriculture during FIRA, the International Agricultural Robotics Forum. November 18th in Toulouse (France).

1. Precision Makers
Probotiq robot technology
Allard Martinet

2. Privately owned group, currently consisting of:
• Herder - ditch cleaners
• Votex - mulchers
• Conver - mowing boats
• Precision Makers– Precision agricultural solutions
and autonomous vehicle technology
• Roberine – self propelled mowers
190 skilled employees realizing 38 mln EURO turnover
PM: 12 employees, only R&D and sales/service
2

3. Precision Makers BV
3
• Unique solutions linked to GPS
• Part of Dutch Power Company
• Robotized solutions (Probotiq brand name)
• Precision farming for Ag and Turf
• More than 75 robots running

4. 4

5.  2008: PROBOTIQ founded
 2009: Prototype Autonomous Mower
 2010: Test year on golf course
 2011: First autonomous mowers sold
 2012: Started development for agriculture
 2013: Multiple DynaMow and agricultural systems
sold.
 2013/10: Acquired by Dutch Power Company
 2015: Changed into Precision Makers
History

6. Robot technology as a kit
• Systems are an add-on
• No interference with ‘normal’ machine
electronics when turned off
• The machine ‘thinks’ there is an operator in the
seat
• Control of steering, engine, transmission, PTO,
etc.
• The more electronics on the machine, the
easier to integrate

7. Robotized Vehicles or Mobile Robots?
• Conventional vehicle to be automated OR
vehicle designed to be autonomous?

8. Solutions
Developing solutions where others don’t go

9. Fendt 516 seeding autonomous in Denmark, without operator

10. Teach & Playback
• Machine repeats operator precisely
• Complex control technology hidden behind an
easy to use user-interface
• Flexible, complex patterns possible
• Control advantages
• Get started within five minutes!

11. Dynamic path planning (patented)
• Autonomy based on advanced path planning
algorithms
• Uses work area, turn area and main direction
• Routes are not taught, but calculated
• Generates multiple patterns with the click of a
button
• Teach-errors are eliminated
• Optimization possible (e.g. time, distance)
• More complex real-time control, but leads to
consistent mowing results

14. Future of robots on farms & green
• Repeating task will be automated quickly
• 3 tasks of operator (steering, acting, controlling):
o Control of quality of work – implement manufacturers!
• First an add-on, later dedicated
• Standardisation of interfaces
• Standardisation of safety
• Cars & platooning to create possibilities
• The future is there. Now. Act!

15. 16
Thank you for your attention