A robotic system developed at the University of Missouri collects more detailed information about crops and individual plants than drones can provide. The technology is part of a larger National Science Foundation program to study climate change effects in Missouri.

The new system consists of a mobile sensor tower and an autonomous robot that collect data to aid in plant phenotyping. A phenotype is the expression of a plant’s observable traits, such as morphology, development Vinobot in cornfield. Image credit: Gui DeSouza/U. Missouriand biochemical properties. Understanding how different phenotypes of the same species respond to environmental conditions helps agronomists to select appropriate plants for specific environments.

The tower, dubbed Vinoculer, observes a 60-foot radius of a field at a time. It can sense areas of the field that are under environmental stress, such as drought, and communicate this information to the robot. The tower can move from place to place, providing as much coverage as researchers need.

The robot—Vinobot—can travel to the stressed area and examine individual plants. Its three sets of sensors collect detailed information about each plant studied. Vinobot has a robotic arm that enables it to move around the plant and create a 3-D model.

The combination of Vinoculer and Vinobot offer advantages over drones for obtaining these types of data. Drones require FAA approval and experienced pilots to operate them. They can be expensive, costing tens of thousands of dollars. Vinocular costs $5,000 and can work 24 hours a day, unlike a drone.