Ask HN: Does anyone know of an open source Farming robot, project, or effort?
I am both a farmer and a software engineer. Like many, I have more ideas for software projects than I can realistically undertake, and my time is further limited by the demands of running my farm.
Traditional farming typically involves very high-cost, large machinery used across hundreds or thousands of acres. Gardening, on the other hand, is much smaller in scale and involves more careful tending to individual plants or smaller groups of crops, rather than massive fields like a 50-acre plot of wheat.
There is a middle ground that might be called "Small Farming" or "Market Gardening." Our production space is about 2 acres, and our beds are a standard 30 inches wide.
Over the years, I've seen many articles and posts about new AgTech products, such as AI-driven laser weeding, drone spraying, and the now common autopilot systems aboard tractors and other machinery.
What I would love to see, and may end up starting myself, is an Open Source FARM Robot. Perhaps something like a wheeled unit with a wheelbase that comfortably fits over the standard 30-inch bed. The drive unit/chassis could allow for modular payloads like a weeder, seeder, or amendment hauler and distributor (compost, fertilizer, etc.).
Is anyone aware of projects or folks working on something along these lines?