University of Coimbra coordinates European project to advance robotics and machine learning for digital agriculture

The Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Coimbra (FCTUC) is coordinating a European project focused on developing robotics and machine learning for digital agriculture. Funded by the Horizon Europe MSCA-DN programme with a budget of €2.5 million, the project "Artificial Intelligence and sensor-fusion systems in sustainable (green) robotics for precision agriculture (AIGreenBots)," will run for four years.

The project aims to develop new agrobot platforms (agricultural robotics platforms), robotics perception and sensor fusion systems, test agricultural robotic systems and address safety issues and current legislation, in collaboration with institutions in Spain, France, the Netherlands and the UK.

The project is part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network, and provides multidisciplinary learning, career development and research for nine international PhD 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) of FCTUC, further adding that “this doctoral network aims to provide the skills and knowledge needed to address a major societal and environmental challenge: agricultural robotics for precision/digital agriculture”.

The AIGreenBots project is a collaborative effort between academic and non-academic participants with expertise in robotics, automation, remote sensing for precision agriculture, reliable AI and probabilistic machine learning, systems engineering, probabilistic reasoning, fusion sensors, security, and real-world deployment of robotics in agriculture.

There are currently no doctoral programmes in Europe focusing on agricultural robotics that provide students with such a broad range of knowledge and experience, despite the growing need for this type of research. At the end of the project, the researchers will be fully prepared to carry out interdisciplinary research at an international level," says the UC project coordinator.

The FCTUC professor concludes: "AIGreenBots will create a European platform of excellence for doctoral training in intelligent robotics for precision/automated agriculture and digital agriculture."