UNIVERSAL ROBOTS URGES FARMERS TO ADOPT ADVANCED TECH, AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 -- Universal Robots (UR), Denmark-based collaborative robot (cobot) maker, has urged local farmers to adopt advanced technology and automation solutions to further foster growth in Malaysia’s agricultural sector.

Its regional director of Asia-Pacific, James McKew, said cobots, which are designed to work alongside human workers, are versatile and flexible and can relieve repetitive tasks such as manual pollination so that humans can take on better roles that tap on cognitive and social abilities.

“To local farmers, automation may mean traditional industrial robots, which are expensive to purchase, inflexible, space-hogging, and often require robotic engineers for programming and maintenance.

“However, there are robots that are more adaptable to urban farming purposes. Already, farmers and food producers are reaping the benefits of cobots to increase productivity and efficiency in many locales,” he said in a statement today.

He noted that under the 12th Malaysia Plan, Malaysia’s agriculture sector will be intensified using smart technologies to increase productivity and strengthen national food security which includes adopting high-tech agricultural methods, including big data analysis, artificial intelligence, and precision equipment, such as drones, robotics and sensors.

Meanwhile, McKew said Augmentus, a leader in easy-to-use and rapid AI-robotics software and a systems integration partner for UR, has worked together with agri-tech companies in the ASEAN region to propel the adoption of robots in urban farms.

“UR’s partnership with Augmentus has proven that robotics open up greater opportunities for local food producers to grow temperate fruits that were once deemed impossible,” he added.

-- BERNAMA