Researchers develop a four-wheeled, two orthogonal axes mechanism robot to maintain plants grown under solar panels
Synecoculture, a new farming method, involves growing mixed plant species together in high density. However, it requires complex operation since varying species with different growing seasons and growing speeds are planted on the same land. To address this need, researchers have developed a robot that can sow, prune, and harvest plants in dense vegetation grown. Its small, flexible body will help large-scale Synecoculture. This is an important step towards achieving sustainable farming and carbon neutrality.
Researchers have developed a small and flexible agricultural robot for Synecoculture farming. It has a four-wheel mechanism, two axes stand, robotic arm, camera unit, maneuvering system, and farming tools.
Synecoculture is a new agricultural method advocated by Dr. Masatoshi Funabashi, senior researcher at Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc. (Sony CSL), in which various kinds of plants are mixed and grown in high density, establishing rich biodiversity while benefiting from the self-organizing ability of the ecosystem. However, such dense vegetation requires frequent upkeep—seeds need to be sown, weeds need to be pruned, and crops need to be harvested. Synecoculture thus requires a high level of ecological literacy and complex decision-making. And while the operational issues present with Synecoculture can be addressed by using an agricultural robot, most existing robots can only automate one of the above three tasks in a simple farmland environment, thus falling short of the literacy and decision-making skills required of them to perform Synecoculture. Moreover, the robots may make unnecessary contact with the plants and damage them, affecting their growth and the harvest.
With the rising awareness of environmental issues, such a gap between the performance of humans versus that of conventional robots has spurred innovation to improve the latter.
A group of researchers led by Takuya Otani, an Assistant Professor at Waseda University, in collaboration with Sustainergy Company and Sony CSL, have designed a new robot that can perform Synecoculture effectively. The robot is called SynRobo, with “syn” conveying the meaning of “together with” humans. It manages a variety of mixed plants grown in the shade of solar panels, an otherwise unutilized space. An article describing their research was published in Volume 13, Issue 1 of Agriculture, on 21 December 2022. This article has been co-authored by Professor Atsuo Takanishi, also from Waseda University, other researchers of Sony CSL, and students from Waseda University.
Otani briefly explains the novel robot’s design. “It has a four-wheel mechanism that enables movement on uneven land and a robotic arm that expands and contracts to help overcome obstacles. The robot can move on slopes and avoid small steps. The system also utilizes a 360o camera to recognize and maneuver its surroundings. In addition, it is loaded with various farming tools—anchors (for punching holes), pruning scissors, and harvesting setups. The robot adjusts its position using the robotic arm and an orthogonal axes table that can move horizontally.”
Besides these inherent features, the researchers also invented techniques for efficient seeding. They coated seeds from different plants with soil to make equally-sized balls. These made their shape and size consistent, so that the robot could easily sow seeds from multiple plants. Furthermore, an easy-to-use, human-controlled maneuvering system was developed to facilitate the robot’s functionality. The system helps it operate tools, implement automatic sowing, and switch tasks.
The new robot could successfully sow, prune, and harvest in dense vegetation, making minimal contact with the environment during the tasks because of its small and flexible body. In addition, the new maneuvering system enabled the robot to avoid obstacles 50% better while reducing its operating time by 49%, compared to a simple controller.
“This research has developed an agricultural robot that works in environments where multiple species of plants grow in dense mixtures,” Otani tells us. “It can be widely used in general agriculture as well as Synecoculture—only the tools need to be changed when working with different plants. This robot will contribute to improving the yield per unit area and increase farming efficiency. Moreover, its agricultural operation data will help automate the maneuvering system. As a result, robots could assist agriculture in a plethora of environments. In fact, Sustainergy Company is currently preparing to commercialize this innovation in abandoned fields in Japan and desertified areas in Kenya, among other places.”
Such advancements will promote Synecoculture farming, with the combination of renewable energy, and help solve various pressing problems, including climate change and the energy crisis. The present research is a crucial step toward achieving sustainable agriculture and carbon neutrality. Here’s hoping for a smart and skillful robot that efficiently supports large-scale Synecoculture!
This robot successfully sows, prunes, and harvests complex vegetation grown in the shade of solar panels. Its maneuvering system reduces operation time by 49%.
Reference
Authors:Takuya Otani1, Akira Itoh2, Hideki Mizukami2, Masatsugu Murakami2, Shunya Yoshida2, Kota Terae2, Taiga Tanaka2, Koki Masaya2, Shuntaro Aotake2,3, Masatoshi Funabashi3, and Atsuo Takanishi2
About Professor Takuya Otani from Waseda Research Institute for Science and Engineering
Takuya Otani is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Waseda Research Institute for Science and Engineering. He received his Ph.D. degree from Waseda University in 2016. He is a member of the Virtual Reality Society of Japan, Japanese Council of IFToMM, Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers, Robotics Society of Japan, and IEEE. He received the Waseda e-Teaching Good Practice Award in 2021. His research interests include robotics and intelligent system, intelligent robotics, haptics, humanoid robotics, and mechanics and mechatronics. His recent work involves developing efficient robots for Synecoculture agriculture.
About Waseda University
Located in the heart of Tokyo, Waseda University is a leading private research university that has long been dedicated to academic excellence, innovative research, and civic engagement at both the local and global levels since 1882. The University has produced many changemakers in its history, including nine prime ministers and many leaders in business, science and technology, literature, sports, and film. Waseda has strong collaborations with overseas research institutions and is committed to advancing cutting-edge research and developing leaders who can contribute to the resolution of complex, global social issues. The University has set a target of achieving a zero-carbon campus by 2032, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015.
Synecoculture is a method of farming that produces useful plants while making multifaceted use of the self-organizing ability of the earth’s ecosystem. Advocated by Dr. Masatoshi Funabashi of Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc., it is characterized by a comprehensive ecosystem utilization method that considers not only food production but also the impacts on the environment and health.
*”Synecoculture” is a registered trademark or a trademark of Sony Group Corporation.
About Sustainergy Company
Sustainergy Company, a Tokyo-based renewable-energy startup, its management philosophy is “making the world sustainable through energy”, has been developing and operating solar power generation projects in Japan, including large-scale farm-based solar power generation (Agrivoltaics). The company noticed that the space under the solar panels of many solar power plants is underutilized and thought that if Sony CSL’s Synecoculture farming method could be applied to the semi-shaded area under the solar panels, the degraded soil could be restored, and the land could be turned into greenery and farmland, thereby enabling both food production and renewable energy production on the same land. Sustainergy Company is preparing to commercialize this project in abandoned farmlands in Japan, desertified areas in Kenya, and other countries. To learn more about Sustainergy Company, visit https://sustainergy.co.jp/.
[最終更新日]
2023/3/9
「3.西早稲田キャンパスのオンライン授業スペース」を更新しました。
Updated “3. Classrooms for taking online classes in Nishi-Waseda Campus”.
2023/3/7
2023年度の授業時間割変更に関するお知らせをリンクしました。
Linked the information about “Changes to the Class Timetable starting from Academic Year 2023”. 2023/3/2 「数学Q&A」を更新しました。
Updated “Math Q&A”. 2023/2/28
Webサイトを公開しました。
Site opened.
以下のとおり、2023年度の授業についておしらせします。WasedaメールやMyWaseda、Waseda Moodleにて、大学あるいは教員から発信される重要なお知らせについても、都度確認のうえご対応ください。
This is to inform you of the classes for Academic Year 2023. Please be sure to check your Waseda emails, the announcements on MyWaseda and Waseda Moodle which are sent from the University and faculty members.
1.授業実施方法の確認方法/How to check course delivery methods
科目登録前にWebシラバスを参照し、「対面授業」「オンライン授業」など授業実施方法をご確認ください(検索方法)。
※共同大学院設置科目は各専攻にご確認ください。
Please check web syllabus prior to course registration and check the course delivery method of each course, such as “face-to-face” or “online” classes(How to search).
*For courses at Cooperative Major, please contact with the relevant faculty members directly.
※授業期間中に対面教場試験を実施する科目もありますので、各科目シラバス、担当教員からの連絡に十分ご注意ください。
*Some subjects will have a face-to-face classroom examination in class weeks, so please be careful about syllabus of each subject and contact notifications from each faculty member.
※選択科目の一部には定員を設定する可能性があり、その科目で登録者が定員を超えた場合は抽選を行います。
*Some of elective courses may set the limit for course participants’ number, and in case the number of applicants for a course exceeds the capacity, final course participants will be decided through a lottery.
2.対面授業時の感染予防/Preventing Infection in Face to Face Classes
キャンパスの入構にあたっては、当日、自宅で体温測定を行い、平熱であることや新型コロナウイルス感染症の疑いのある症状がないことを確認してください。
On the day you plan to come to campus, take your temperature at home, make sure it is at average body temperature and no symptoms of a suspected COVID-19 infection.
各教室、建物入口、各フロアーに消毒液を常備します。キャンパス・教室に入る際には必ず消毒液で手指を消毒してください。また、日中は教室の清掃が入りません。ご自身が使用される前後に机上等の清浄が必要な場合は、各自教室設置の消毒液あるいは除菌シートによりご対応ください。
Hand sanitizer is always available in each classroom, at the building entrance and on each floor. Please disinfect your hands/fingers with it before entering the campus and classrooms. Please note that classrooms are not cleaned during the day. If you need to clean your desk before or after you use it, please use the hand sanitizers and disinfecting wipes provided in the classroom.
生協のカフェテリアを含め、西早稲田キャンパス内で飲食が許可された施設を利用する場合、可能であれば、昼休みなど利用が集中する時間帯を避ける、また、占有せず利用終了後は速やかにほかの方に席を譲る、など、皆さんが利用できるようご配慮ください。
When using facilities on the Nishi-Waseda campus where eating and drinking are permitted, including the cafeteria, please try to avoid peak hours such as lunchtime if possible, and when you have finished eating, please give up your seat to someone else as soon as possible, so that everyone can use the place. 【教室での飲食/Eating and drinking in the classroom】
教室は、昼休みに限り飲食を可とします。授業開始10分前には食事を終え、机上の消毒などを完了してください。
You are permitted eating and drinking in the classrooms ONLY during the lunch break. Please finish eating and disinfect your desk 10 minutes before class starts.
3.西早稲田キャンパスのオンライン授業受講スペース/Classrooms for taking online classes in Nishi-Waseda Campus
対面授業後にリアルタイムのオンライン授業がある場合は、以下の教室・PCルーム・学生ラウンジ等で受講し、終了後は速やかに帰宅してください。利用にあたっては、三密を避け、できる限りソーシャルディスタンシングを心掛け、着席間隔に留意してください。
If you have a real-time online class after attending a face-to-face class, you may use a Classrooms, PC rooms, student lounges, etc. for taking online courses.When using the facilities, avoid the 3Cs, keep social distancing, and please take care to ensure that you are seated at the correct distance from each other.
教室のWi-Fi環境を利用したオンライン授業の受講に際しては、個人のモバイルPC等を持ち込んでご利用ください(接続方法はITサービスナビ「ネットワーク利用案内」をご確認ください)。また、イヤホン・ヘッドホン等(マイク付を推奨)を利用し、授業における発言以外の私語は謹んでください。
If you are going to be using Wi-Fi connections in the classrooms to take online classes, please bring your laptops and/or mobile devices (For details on how to setup, please refer to “Network Use Guide”.). Use earphones/ headphones (with microphone) and please refrain from speaking unless it is a statement or a question for class.
大学施設利用にあたっては「Support Anywhere」記載事項も合わせてご確認ください。
When you use university facilities, please also check the information on “Support Anywhere”.
西早稲田キャンパス開放教室 /Classrooms for taking online classes in Nishi-Waseda Campus
月曜~金曜/Mon.-Fri.
8:00-21:35
※授業実施日に限る
*Available only when classes are held.
西早稲田キャンパスPCルーム/PC rooms in Nishi-Waseda Campus
有線LAN接続済の既設PCの利用により、オンライン授業をより安定した環境で受講可能です。
By using an installed PC connected to a wired LAN, you can take online classes in a more stable environment.
5.早稲田大学生協教科書・教材販売/Purchasing of textbooks and other materials at Waseda Co-op
履修する授業で指定されている教科書をWebシラバスで確認のうえ、必要に応じてご購入ください。
Please check the textbook for your course on Web syllabus and purchase it as needed.
※早稲田大学生協による教科書販売スケジュールは以下のサイトでご確認ください。
* Please check the following website for the textbook sales schedule by Waseda University Co-op.
※早稲田大学生協では各科目担当教員からの指示により教科書を入荷しています。早稲田大学生協に取り扱いのない教科書は、そのほかの方法でお求めいただくか、科目担当教員にご相談ください。
*Please check the following website for the sales schedule by Waseda University Co-op. Waseda University Co-op receives textbooks in stock as instructed by each course instructor.
※白衣・レポートセット・関数電卓・電子辞書・製図用品・作業着等は、生協購買部(57号館B1階)にて購入可能です。詳細は、上記早稲田大学生協Webサイトにてご確認ください。
White coats, report sets, calculators, electronic dictionaries, drafting supplies, work clothes, etc. can be purchased at the Co-op Purchasing Department (Bldg. 57, B1F). For details, please refer to the Waseda University Co-op website.
6.対面授業(講義・演習・実験)に出席できない場合/In case you cannot attend in-person classes (lecture, seminar, laboratory courses)
原則として、対面授業は教室に登校して出席する必要があります。
外国人留学生の場合、必要な在留資格(ビザ)を取得し、渡日する必要があります。
In principle, attendance at classroom/on campus is required for face-to-face classes.
In case of international students, it is necessary for them to obtain the visa and come Japan.
新型コロナウイルス感染症罹患・濃厚接触者に特定された場合/In case of COVID-19 infection or identified as a close contact
授業を欠席する必要性が生じた場合は、以下の手順でご対応ください。
If you need to be absent from classes due to this reason, please follow the procedure below.
学生は「新型コロナウイルス感染症ワクチン接種による欠席届および配慮願」に必要事項を記入し、客観的な証明書類を添えて、51号館1階教学支援課カウンターに申し出る(体調不良等により、登校が難しい場合は、学生証の画像ファイルおよび必要資料をすべて添付のうえ、[[email protected]]宛にWasedaメールからお送りください)。Students must fill out the “Notification of Absence due to Covid-19 Vaccination” forms, and submit them with objective evidence to the “Academic and Student Affair’s Section at the Center for Science and Engineering” at the grand floor of the Bldg. 51, Nishi-Waseda Campus (If you are unable to come to the school due to illness or other reasons, please send an image file of your student ID and all necessary documents to [[email protected]] via Waseda-mail.).
事務所承認後、学生本人が担当教員に、教場にて(オンライン授業の場合はEメール、WasedaMoodleの「Message My Teacher」等を通じて)、「新型コロナウイルス感染症ワクチン接種による欠席届および配慮願」を渡し、配慮を願い出る。After approval by the Office, the student must submit the “Notification of Absence due to Covid-19 Vaccination” to the faculty member in charge at the classroom (or via E-mail, “Message My Teacher” on WasedaMoodle , etc. in the case of online classes) and ask for consideration.
上記以外の体調不良など新型コロナ感染症への感染が疑われる場合/ In case of illness or other suspected cases of COVID-19 infection
無理に登校をせず、速やかに医師の診断あるいは抗原定性検査キット(「体外診断用医薬品」と記載のある薬事承認されたもの)を用いた検査により登校可否を判断してください。それに伴い、授業を欠席する必要性が生じた場合は、WasedaMoodleの「Message My Teacher」などを通じて、科目担当教員に事情をご説明ください。
Please do not come to school without a doctor’s advice or test by the antigen test kit approved with the label “in vitro diagnostic product” (「体外診断用医薬品」) , and get a decision on whether or not you can come to school as soon as possible. If you need to be absent from classes due to this reason, please explain your situation to the instructor of each course via “Message My Teacher” on WasedaMoodle etc..
※病院が発行した領収書や診断書等は担当教員等から要請があった際に提出できるよう各自保管しておいてください。
*Please keep receipts and medical certificates issued by the hospital so that you can submit them when requested by the instructor of each course.
科目の連絡先/How to contact
講義科目・演習科目/Lectures/Seminars
LMSのメッセージにより、科目担当教員に相談ください。
With regard to the query about the course, please send the message to the lecturer through Learning Management System.
7.オンライン授業に関するお問い合わせ/Inquiry about taking online courses
初回授業日あるいは各時限の開始時間はアクセスが集中する場合があります。可能な場合は授業日に先立ち、使用するツールなどやダウンロードしておくべき資料の有無などの教員からの指示を事前に確認して準備しておくことをお勧めします。
Access may be congested on the first day of the class or the starting time of each period. It is recommended that you check in advance instructions from the lecturer about tools or materials to be used.
オンライン授業履修にあたっての重要なおしらせは、通常Wasedaメールに送信されますが、E-mailは送信されず、Moodleのおしらせに掲載されるのみ、あるいは、別の連絡手段が指定される場合もあります。メールの受信状況やMoodleのお知らせなどを、1日に複数回確認してください。
Important notices for taking online courses will be sent to your Waseda email. Also, it may be posted only in Moodle’s announcements or other contact tools without sending email. Please follow the instructions of your instructors for each course. Please check your mail box and Moodle annoucements etc. several times per day.
早稲田大学のオンライン授業を受講するために必要な準備や、参考になる情報を掲載しています。
Online preparatory website “Lean Anywhere” provides several tips and information for you to take online courses.
【重要】セキュリティや著作権について/Important: About the security and copyright
セキュリティや著作権について正しい知識が必要です。ご自身の個人情報の漏洩以外にも他者の個人情報や肖像権などに十分留意してください。Waseda Moodle上での活動を含めてインターネット上ならではの取り扱いやレポートなどの課題に取り組む際の留意点など、オンライン授業だからこそ遵守しなければならないルールがあります。オンライン、オンデマンド含め講義内容の録画やSNSなどでの公開は厳に慎んでください。これらに違反すると、退学や停学といった厳しい処罰がくだされることもありますので、 正しい知識を身に付けて、十分に注意するようにしてください。
You are requested to have the accurate knowledge of the security and copyright. Apart from the leakage of your personal information, please be aware of the personal information and portrait rights of others. In addition, there are certain rules to follow especially for online classes (including activities on Waseda Moodle) as well as notes for working on reports and other assignments on internet. Violation of these rules may result in disciplinary action, such as expulsion from the university or academic suspension.
(2)困りごとが発生した場合の問い合わせ方法/How to contact in case of problems
Wasedaメールを使うことが推奨されています。メールやMoodleのメッセージを送る際には、学部・学科・学籍番号・氏名、授業に関する問い合わせの場合は科目名やクラス、担当教員、ご自身に生じている状況を詳しく記載のうえ、お問い合わせください。
You are recommended to contact via Waseda email. Be sure to indicate your school, department, student ID number, name and the detail of situation happening to you when sending email or a message to the lecturer via Learning Management System. (Course title and name of lecturers are required additionally when your query refers to your course.)
加えて、システム的なトラブルが生じている場合は、以下の情報を記載のうえ、お問い合わせください。
If you have any system problem, please ask with following details:
使っている環境(スマートフォンかPCか、メーカー機種OSなど)やソフトウェアやアプリケーション
Your device (smart phone or PC, Mac or Windows etc.), software, application
通信環境(固定回線かモバイル環境か、Wifiの状況)
Your communication environment (fixed line or mobile, Wifi status)
生じているトラブルの具体的な内容(エラーメッセージが出ている場合はその内容)
Detailed description of the problem (e.g. error message on the screen)
また、アクセス集中に伴うシステムの配信遅延、そのほかの理由により、お問い合わせに対する返信に1週間程度の時間を要する可能性がございます。初回講義に関する問い合わせや質問の回答が、第2回の講義において示される場合もあります。皆さまにはご不便をおかけしますが、何卒ご理解とご協力の程、宜しくお願いいたします。
In case of system disruption caused by access congestion, a university-wide response may be sent from MyWaseda. It may take up to a week to respond to inquiries about the lecture content and assignments. To be more specific, answers to inquiries and questions about the first lecture may be presented in the second lecture. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
(3)授業や教材に関する相談/ Inquiry about course and course material
教材や課題などはWebシラバスやWaseda Moodleにて通知されます。授業について質問がある場合は、LMSのメッセージ(教員から指示がある場合はそのほかの方法)により、科目担当教員に相談ください。
With regard to the query about the course contents (e.g. communication environment designated by the course) and materials (e.g. in case you cannot get the textbooks), please check the web syllabus or Waseda Moodle and contact with the course lecturer. Please follow that instruction. Otherwise please send the message to the lecturer through Learning Management System.
上記にあてはまらない質問、あるいは、次の授業回になっても教員からの回答がない場合などは、「理工学術院オンライン授業お問い合わせ窓口」にお問い合わせください。
If you have any questions that do not appear in the above list, or if you do not receive a reply from the lecturer in the next class session, please contact the “Inquiry at FSE”.
*MyWasedaログインのうえご回答ください。/ Please log in to MyWaseda and answer the questions.
Moodle上で科目が見つからない場合/ In case the course you registered is not appeared on My courses on Waseda Moodle.
1.以下の「科目名対照表」を確認する、あるいは、担当教員から、シラバスやWasedaメールに届くお知らせなどによりMoodle上で履修すべき科目名が明示されていないか確認してください。
In this case, please check with the “Course Comparison List” below or confirm the other course title with the syllabus or emails which are sent by the lecturer of the course.
科目名対照表/Course Comparison List (ご参考:2022年度版/3月中旬更新予定)
※Moodle上でコース名が見つけづらい科目のみ掲載しています。
*This is a list of courses which names are hard to find in Waseda Moodle.
2.科目登録2次登録日程以降のオンライン授業に参加できるタイミングは「科目登録日程」をご確認ください。
Please refer to the Appendix 1 of your program regarding when you can participate in online classes registered during the 2nd and 3rd course registration period.
8.学生生活に関するサポート/ Supports for Student Life
大学における諸手続きや証明書申請の方法、あるいは、皆さんが抱えるさまざまな心配事に対する、大学や理工学術院の相談窓口は以下に記載されています。また、心理的な相談は、学生相談室や保健室にて、臨床心理士が対応しています。以下のサイトを参照のうえ、各窓口にお問い合わせください。
The University and the FSE provide consultation services for various concerns that you may have. For psychological counseling, clinical psychologists are available at the Student Counseling Room and the Health Support Center. Please refer to the following website: