Latest Update FRE
The International Field Robot Event (FRE) is an annual competition where
European universities and other participants compete with their field robots
for the best results from various agricultural applications. Long before
digitalization became a hot topic, the competition was initiated by Wageningen
University (NL) back in 2003 to share knowledge and experience with autonomous
field robots and to promote development in general, in a annual competition.
The FRE offers an exciting opportunity for participants to deal concretely with
current challenges in agricultural technology: Automation and digitalization,
optimized crop production and sustainable agriculture are the main topics. The
agricultural tasks are always a challenge for the teams and their robots, as
technical and agricultural process knowledge is essential. However, the fun of
the competition should not be neglected.
This year, the 18th Field Robot Event (FRE) will be held virtually in a
simulation of ROS Gazebo from June 8th to 10th due to the pandemic. Fourteen
international teams from Europe have registered for 2021, so fourteen virtual
and some real robots will compete in agricultural tasks.
The International Field Robot Event has been held every second year since 2014
together with the DLG Field Days. This cooperation will be continued. The FRE
event will be live-streamed on DLG's new digital platform. You just need to
register for free: Watch the three-days virtual event on
www.dlg-connect.com<http://www.dlg-connect.com>.
Program, June 8th to 10th, 2021
Tuesday, June 8th
09:30 - 09:45 Welcome
09:45 - 10:00 Welcome Note - President of the EurAgEng
10:00 - 12:00 Contest Task 1 (simulation)
Basic navigation in a maize field with curved rows
(max travelled distance per time will win)
14:00 - 16:00 Contest Task 2 (simulation)
Advanced navigation in a maize field with straight rows with gaps
following a given track pattern
(max travelled distance per time will win)
16:30 - 17:00 Awarding Task 1 + 2
17:00 - 17:30 FAQ and support
Wednesday, June 9th
10:00 - 12:00 Contest Task 3 (simulation)
Weed and object detection and georeferencing in a maize field
(the most correct map wins)
14:00 - 16:00 Contest Task 4 (simulation)
Removing weeds and objects out of a maize field to the headlands
(the most correct removed will win)
16:30 - 17:00 Awarding Task 3 + 4 and Overall
17:00 - 17:30 FAQ and support
Thursday, June 10th
10:00 - 11:30 Contest Task 5 (live video)
Freestyle: Free choice for the teams about what to present
(Complexity, performance and
agricultural usefulness will win)
11:30 - 12:00 Awarding Task 5
Farewell
We wish all teams to have good ideas for solving problems (challenges!), good
success in implementation and fun & good luck!
The organising team 2021
Sam Blaauw, Thijs Ruigrok, David Reiser, Hans W. Griepentrog