Automatic, unmanned and intelligent robot for field work machine
Innovative field robotic product prototype
Speeding up from startup to scale-up
Providing superior R&D services for intelligent photonics in agricultural robotics
The Center for Intelligent Photonics in Agricultural Robotics (CiPAR) at National Chiao Tung University (NCTU) was founded in 2018 on the basis of sophisticated research in laser technology with intelligent optoelectronics component and imaging systems. We focus on solving the global agricultural problems, such as severe climate change, aging, lack of labor, and pesticide overdosing, to modularize and manufacture innovative economic field work robot prototypes that adapt to the field type and requirements. As a result of promotion via industry-academia collaboration, such as spin-in and spin-off, the prototype can be transferred to a new division of an industry or the startup company, thus eliminating obstacles and accelerating mass production processes and adding value to the field of agriculture.
CiPAR funding resources mainly come from MOST, the Council of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Education, Taiwan as well as from collaborators. CiPAR has partnerships with more than 10 institutes, bureaus, and industries. The center will keep strengthening the R&D and service energy until it develops into an influential world-class Research Service Center (RSC) by developing key technologies, exploring trends in international market development, expanding strategic industrial alliances, and establishing brands related to technology services.
Cultivation Towards the Future
With the strengths that NCTU has in terms of optoelectronics, image systems, laser technology, and the core technologies that apply to agricultural robots and smart agricultural machinery, we completed the first agricultural electric UGV prototype in early 2018. Currently, we are working on a second UGV and upgrading a version of the agricultural robot. Key technologies such as agricultural electric UGVs, robot control and positioning, image recognition and stereo modeling, agricultural optoelectronic technology, and machine tools are also steadily developing.
Under the global trend of transforming agriculture towards smart precision agriculture, CiPAR has a geographical advantage. It is located next to the Shalun Green Energy Science City in Tainan City, Taiwan, the demonstration site of the Industrial Research Institute and the Southern Campus of the Academia Sinica. With the joint force of academic research resources and industry implementation, we hope to become a top notch R&D center and contribute to sustainable agriculture in the near future.
