Motivation
In the evolving landscape of agricultural robotics, one of the critical challenges is intelligent navigation across varying terrain conditions. At the Lincoln Centre for Autonomous Systems (LCAS), we’re pioneering solutions to enable robots to traverse agricultural environments with minimal impact. When agricultural robots repeatedly follow identical paths, they create progressively deeper ruts, disturbing soil structure and potentially damaging transported produce. This project aims to develop innovative terrain assessment techniques that enable robots to intelligently plan paths avoiding hazards such as deep ruts, muddy patches, and potholes, thereby enhancing operational reliability and preserving both the agricultural environment and harvested produce quality.
Required Skills
- Strong programming skills in C++ or Python
- Solid mathematical foundation, particularly in 3D geometry and path planning algorithms
- Understanding of Robot Operating System (ROS2) or willingness to learn
- Basic knowledge of sensor integration (cameras, 3D LiDAR)
- Familiarity with simulation environments (such as Gazebo) would be advantageous
- Problem-solving approach and attention to detail
Skills to Be Gained
This project offers an exceptional opportunity to develop expertise in cutting-edge agricultural robotics. Students will gain hands-on experience with real wheeled robots and industry-standard simulation environments. You’ll develop proficiency in sensor fusion techniques, advanced motion planning algorithms, and ROS2 implementation—all highly sought-after skills in both industry and academia. Additionally, you’ll enhance your understanding of real-world robotic deployment challenges in agricultural settings, contributing to sustainable farming practices through technological innovation. This project provides an excellent foundation for careers in autonomous systems development, precision agriculture, or further academic research.
This is a project suitable as a final year project for any Lincoln students studying Computer Science or Robotics, or as an internship position in robotics. If you are interested to work on this as an intern fill out our Expression of Interest Form, choosing Professor Marc Hanheide as the researcher to supervise the project. If you are a Lincoln student wishing to pursue this project as part of your studies, please refer to your respective project module’s procedure on project selection and allocation.