Prototype ‘Small Robot Tom’ farming analysis robot, manufactured by the Small Robot Company, UK, 2018

‘Small Robot Tom’ is part of a new system-based approach to farming, intended to go beyond present technologies which have a large environmental footprint, and incur significant capital and running costs. The sensors in ‘Tom’ monitor a crop’s progress, and the spread of weeds in the surrounding soil. Tom feeds data to ‘Wilma’, a back-end computer, which directs two other robots, ‘Dick’ and ‘Harry’, to precisely apply fertiliser/pesticides, or plant new seed if required, respectively. The system is intended to reduce the amount of fertiliser, herb- and pesticides used, and creating a more sustainable model for future farming.