On May 20, Rocos published a video of Boston Dynamics' robot dog Spot demonstrating its latest and upcoming agriculture-oriented abilities including herding sheep and harvesting crops.

While Boston Dynamics recently optimised their robot dog Spot to help health professionals minimise contact with Covid-19 patients, the company is now envisioning the robot giving farmers a hand out in the field. On May 20, robotics company Rocos published a video to YouTube showing off Boston Dynamics' bot strolling through orchards, trekking over difficult terrain, and even herding sheep.

This type of work would be done by the robot autonomously, thanks to various technologies that each can be equipped with like infrared cameras, LIDAR cameras, real-time mapping technologies, and custom machinery. Wherever the robots may be, the data they collect could be streamed back to any system, anywhere in the world.

With this information readily available, work shortages can be prepared for, and "precision agriculture becomes matter-of-course". Farm work automation by robots like Spot have the potential to greatly improve agricultural efficiency both relieving farmers of redundant or unnecessary work and helping optimise the growth of the world population's food.

 - AFP Relaxnews