Study of construction solutions for the automation of a tracked carrier for vineyard applications

In recent years, the viticulture industry has undergone a significant technological evolution. The need to increase production while maintaining high-quality standards, reducing work-related accidents, and minimizing the impact on the ecosystem has compelled major agricultural machinery manufacturers to invest in the development of autonomous driving robots. The design of these vehicles involves several phases, and this text has been commissioned by a large company that operates in many sectors, including agriculture. The aim is to analyze the initial stages and provide the necessary materials for subsequent phases. The environment in which the vehicle will operate is therefore considered, identifying its main characteristics, including difficulties and associated risks. The currently available vineyard robots are described to understand their features and the purposes for which they were developed, in order to propose new solutions in the market. The subsequent step was to choose the most suitable model for the automation process based on its technical and structural properties. Great emphasis is then placed on the hardware required for this conversion (perception sensors, localization systems, main computers, and communication modules), as well as the specifications that need to be considered for an accurate selection. Furthermore, there is an analysis of the current safety regulations that specifically relate to the automation of agricultural machinery. Finally, a layout based on a simplified 3D model of the vehicle is proposed for the positioning of sensors and safety devices.