FRANC

Abstract

While in modern agriculture increasingly powerful complex machines with advanced technology are used organic farming is characterized by multiple manual tasks. The project FRANC developed and builds an autonomous vehicle which can be used especially in organic farming. The vehicle is equipped with the necessary sensor technology and control hard- and software to autonomously drive in row crops. By steerable front and rear wheels a tight turning radius is possible. A modular design allows easy and flexible adaptations of different applications and requirements. A safety concept was developed in order to ensure a safe operation stopping the vehicle without delay in case of collision. A simple smartphone can be used for controlling the field robot.