Objectives of the service
In the KickStart project MUPO, a precise indoor/outdoor navigation system is being developed that enables a robot to drive autonomously in the entire stable area using various components, such as precise GNSS and wireless positioning. MUPO offers retrofit solutions for agricultural robotics with manure removal being primarily the main use case. Our products are compatible with all cattle farms.
MUPO serves the agricultural market in cooperation with agricultural traders, especially those who supply stable equipment. The end users of the complete robots with the autonomous MUPO navigation are farmers with livestock to support their daily work.
At the moment these are mainly in Germany and Austria, with plans to expand to other countries in the future.
Users and their needs
MUPO enables automated cleaning services in stables. Precise handling can enhance hygiene, decrease operating costs and minimise illnesses. MUPO allows farmers to avoid laborious and potentially harmful tasks such as manure removal. This can improve livestock welfare by enhancing hygiene measures and identifying illnesses early on. Furthermore, the technology's advanced feeding and cleaning systems facilitate the transition from binded to free-housing cow stables.
Service/ system concept
This robot is used in agriculture and can autonomously muck out stables. MUPO is the solution to simplify the autonomous process of cleaning manure or feeding livestock as a retrofit solution for existing stables.
MUPO provides precise indoor/outdoor navigation that enables a robot to drive autonomously everywhere in stables while objects and livestock can be detected and avoided without stopping the manure cleaning process.
Various sensors provide the input for the navigation, the System Control initiates the Control of the motors and various Process controls, such as battery charging or autonomous cleaning. This is used to control various actuators (i.e. for manure discharge). All important information of the stable or the livestock can be output via a GUI and an app.
Space Added Value
The primary method of positioning is Satellite Navigation with RTK (Real-Time Kinematic). This is complemented by a wireless positioning method, particularly used indoors. Satellite Communication will also be used to enhance redundancy and independence, which is especially important in rural or remote (alpine) areas.
Current Status
Positioning methods for indoor and outdoor navigation have been implemented and tested for precision outdoors and inside stables. The results of the measurements achieved the expected accuracy.
Partners have been found for the agricultural market and for the mechanical construction of MUPO solutions. Together with them, it is intended to continue the project in a demonstration project.
Prime Contractor(s)
