The First Agricultural Robotics Conference Successfully Held

On July 9, 2024, the first Agricultural Robotics Innovation Conference, themed “Gathering Global Wisdom and Promoting International Cooperation,” was successfully held at Qingshan Lake Science and Technology City in Lin’an District. The conference was organized by the International Association of Robotics Organizations (IARA), Hangzhou Science and Technology Association, and Zhejiang A&F University, and co-organized by the Qingshan Lake Science and Technology City Administrative Committee, Zhejiang Robot Industry Development Association, Hangzhou International Civic Science and Technology Exchange Center, Hangzhou Digital Economy Federation, Hangzhou Institute of Automation Technology, and Elray (Hangzhou) Robotics Co., Ltd. The conference was also supported by Hangzhou Yunhe Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Digital Village Development Alliance, Hangzhou Digital Village Development Promotion Association, Zhejiang University of Technology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang Future Farm Industry Technology Alliance, Hangzhou Automation Society, Hangzhou Qingshan Lake Science and Technology Innovation Research Institute, Israeli Intelligent Robotics Center, Malaysian Robotics and Automation Society, and Nordic Venture Capital Firm (NSV).

Distinguished guests in attendance included Zhang Libin, President of the International Association of Robotics Organizations (IARA) and former President of Zhejiang University of Technology, Wu Chuanyu, President of Zhejiang Ocean University, Sun Yongrong, Chairman of the Hangzhou Science and Technology Association, and Wang Juhong, Vice Chairman of the association. Also in attendance were Sun Kuifa, Director of the Agricultural Mechanization and Digitalization Department of the Zhejiang Agriculture and Rural Affairs Office; Zhu Tao, Deputy Director of the High-end Equipment Department of the Zhejiang Economy and Information Technology Office; Lin Jing, Deputy Director of the Zhejiang Agricultural and Rural Big Data Development Center; Xu Wenbo, Deputy Director of the Hangzhou Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau; Cai Yufeng, Director of the Agricultural Mechanization and Digitalization Department of the Hangzhou Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau; Mei Kai, Deputy Director of the Agricultural Mechanization and Digitalization Department of the Hangzhou Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau; Jiang Xiaobin, Director of the Hangzhou International Civic Science and Technology Exchange Center; Wang Li, Member of the Party Committee of Qingshan Lake Science and Technology City and Deputy Director of the Administrative Committee; Yosi Laha and Oren Fuerst, co-founders of the Israeli Intelligent Robotics Center (IIRC); Ishkandar Baharin, President of the Malaysian Robotics and Automation Society (MyRAS); Finnish Artificial Intelligence Robotics expert Jussi Gillberg; Wendy Cheng, partner at Nordic Venture Capital Firm (NSV); Wang Yunkuan, Researcher at the Automation Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Ye Hongbao, Deputy Director of the Agricultural Equipment Research Institute of the Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences; Wang Guoyao, Executive Vice President of the Zhejiang Robot Industry Development Association; Xu Chi, Director of the Hangzhou Institute of Automation Technology; Yuan Bingqiang, General Manager of Hangzhou Yunhe Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd.; and representatives of related departments of Lin’an District and Qingshan Lake Science and Technology City, as well as agricultural robotics companies, experts, and scientific and technological personnel, with more than 200 people attending offline. The conference was held in a combination of offline and online formats and received widespread attention and enthusiastic responses from industry peers, research institutes, and entrepreneurs.

During the opening ceremony, Zhang Libin, Sun Yongrong, Sun Kuifa, and Wang Li delivered speeches, unanimously affirming that agricultural robotics is an important piece of high-tech equipment in the agricultural field and is of great significance for the development of modern agriculture in all countries, especially those with large agricultural sectors. The technology of agricultural robots is not only a key indicator in the process of agricultural modernization but also plays a pivotal role in driving modern agriculture toward intelligence and precision, thereby enhancing the overall competitiveness of national agriculture.

The signing ceremony of the strategic cooperation agreement between the International Association of Robotics Organizations and Qingshan Lake Science and Technology City was held, where both parties committed to working closely to promote the development of the robotics industry in Qingshan Lake Science and Technology City, foster international exchange, cooperation, and development in the robotics industry, and jointly establish an international agricultural robotics innovation cluster and industrial incubation platform.

This was followed by the establishment ceremony of the International Agricultural Robotics Innovation Center. The center will primarily focus on research in the fields of intelligent recognition and positioning technology for agricultural robots, innovative design of high-adaptability end-effectors, mobile platforms adaptable to various terrains, and low-cost, high-efficiency agricultural robots. Through international cooperation, technological innovation, talent cultivation, and industry implementation, it aims to effectively integrate cutting-edge global technologies, leading products, and expert resources in the field of agricultural robotics, accelerating technological innovation and the transformation of achievements, and promoting high-quality, sustainable global agricultural development.

In the conference report session, Professor Yosi Lahad from Israel presented on “Overview of the Development of Agricultural Robotics in Israel,” Professor Wu Chuanyu from Zhejiang Ocean University shared “Innovative Practices of Tea-picking Robots,” Ishkandar Baharin, President of the Malaysian Robotics and Automation Society, gave a report on “Development and Application of Agricultural Robotics in Malaysia,” Professor Wang Yunkuan from the Automation Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences discussed “Application of Flexible Manufacturing Systems in Intelligent Agricultural Equipment,” Professor Ni Zhongjin from Zhejiang A&F University explored “Preliminary Research on Key Technologies of Orchard Robots,” and Ye Hongbao, Deputy Director of the Agricultural Equipment Research Institute of the Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, presented “Demand and Practices of Agricultural Robotics.” Associate Professor Wang Hongcheng from Hangzhou University of Electronic Science and Technology shared “Practices of Agricultural Inspection Robots,” Finnish Dr. Craig Brelsford spoke on “Application of Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture,” Bu Yan, Deputy Director of the Hangzhou Institute of Automation Technology, shared “Practices of Grape-picking Robots,” and Wendy Cheng from Nordic Venture Capital Firm (NSV) provided an “Overview of the Development of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in Northern Europe.” The reports were diverse, offering insights into the current developments and innovative applications in the field of agricultural robotics.

Yunhe’s World Unite Unmanned Farm, as the only commercial implementation case presented at the conference, received unanimous praise from attending leaders, experts, and peers. The farm has been recognized as a “Provincial-level Digital Agricultural Factory,” a “Provincial-level Project for Strengthening Agriculture through Science, Technology, and Mechanization,” and a “Provincial-level Demonstration Base for the Integration of Agricultural Mechanization and Agronomy,” becoming a model for Zhejiang-Taiwan cooperation.

The final session of the conference, “High-end Agricultural Robotics Forum,” was moderated by Dean Xu Chi, inviting Luo Xuqin, Director of the Agricultural and Rural Information Service Center in Lin’an District; Oren Fuerst, co-founder of the Israeli Intelligent Robotics Center (IIRC); Cai Xiuhong, Chairman of Zhejiang Sanxianghao Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd.; Luo Xueming, Deputy General Manager of Hangzhou Zhengxing Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd.; and Xia Mingfei, Investment Director of Zhejiang University Innovation Group, to participate in the discussion. The forum focused on the challenges and opportunities in developing agricultural robotics, addressing bottlenecks faced in the industry, how to achieve collaborative innovation, how to implement industry solutions, and how to engage capital in the industry. The experts expressed their views, exchanged ideas, and contributed their wisdom to the innovative development of agricultural robotics, offering a fascinating intellectual feast.

The first Agricultural Robotics Innovation Conference, themed “Gathering Global Wisdom and Promoting International Cooperation,” aimed to integrate international resources, gather global wisdom, share the latest technological achievements and industrial application experiences in the field of agricultural robotics, explore mechanisms for international cooperation in agricultural robotics, further promote innovation in agricultural robotics technology, accelerate the development of agricultural robotics industrial clusters, and promote and advance international agricultural robotics and global agricultural sustainable development.