the project was awarded with the core77 award runner up
the problems
Modern agriculture uses energy-intensive machinery and practices that harm the environment, contributing to climate change and a reduction in global insect populations. A rethinking of farming practices is necessary to mitigate these negative effects.
Modern agriculture uses energy-intensive machinery and practices that harm the environment, contributing to climate change and a reduction in global insect populations. A rethinking of farming practices is necessary to mitigate these negative effects.
The Curt robot family is a research project for a more environmentally friendly, economical and sustainable agricultural industry.
the work was created between a student group of designers and a research institute that did the main part of the engineering work.
the work was created between a student group of designers and a research institute that did the main part of the engineering work.
The Fraunhofer IPA Institute is conducting research to find information for automated weed control without pesticides. For this, it needs a platform that can navigate autonomously through the terrain and collect data for training an AI.
Fraunhofer IPA has developed kinematics for off-road mobility that enable the robot to overcome large obstacles.
An engineering validation of robotic components in a universal robot enclosure.
first concepts in gravity sketch
The use of virtual reality programs has helped us to work together spatially at a distance, to explore possibilities with standard parts and to involve stakeholders in the design process.
The most important function of the robot was the easy and convenient attachment and positioning of sensors on the robot. The raw environment in the field contradicts the sensitive sensors, so we focused a lot on the ease of use of the robot.
The final design of the robot with a high off-road capability
The outer layer of the robot consists of sheets perforated from the top, front and back for easy attachment of sensors.
With the additional attachments, the sensor can be worked with actively or recorded passively.
The second layer protects the inner parts from water and dust. This layer still allows easy cable insertion and wide access to the internal components.
curt maxi
The Curt Maxi needs a size of 2000*1500*1200mm for the technology and off-road capability. It has sensors that automatically detect weeds and mechanically removes them via actuators.
the actuator has the ability to move in different directions to protect the cultivated plants and to reach the weeds.
the fraunhofer ipa has developed various manipulators to test reliable weed regulation.
planning the assembly and manufacturing of the robot
curt maxi and mini
the finished curt maxi on the automatica exhibition
team
niklas muhs
emma rahe
thorben westendorf
emma rahe
thorben westendorf
context
scientific research work for the fraunhofer ipa
2022/ 02 -> ongoing
2022/ 02 -> ongoing
focus
industrial design
design for manufacturing
user experience design
communication design
design for manufacturing
user experience design
communication design
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