Ant robot shows huge on-farm potential

Thought this looked like it had some potential, especially in a mini format for lawn mowing!

It looks like an oversized ant but is a four-legged robot on special wheels. With the wheels, that are still being developed, the diligent "ant" can feed pigs, shepherd animals and mow grass.

The "ant" has so far been developed as a swineherd and herdsman. The new wheels will enable the ant to roll in all directions. Illustration by Alistair Murray Hoegh Persson, Ideals, who is a collaborative partner in the project.

The "ant" is the one who is going to be using the new type of wheel. The ant is a strange-looking, driverless vehicle. It is shaped like a pyramid and in each corner there is a wheel. However, the type of wheel that allows the ant to move perfectly has not yet been invented.

The ant was invented by scientist and architect Bent Hindrup Andersen from the Department of Agricultural Engineering at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences. For many years, Bent Hindrup Andersen worked with organic pig farming. One of the many things that the ant must be able to do is to feed pigs.

Herdsman and swineherd

A container inside the ant is filled with feed. The sides of the ant have feeding points. When the ant comes into the enclosure where the pigs are, the pigs are given the opportunity to eat.