| The National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) | | | | machine can be revised from the main computer |
| of Japan has engaged in a robotic project that | | | | in order to make any adjustments from the |
| fully mechanized rice production with a global | | | | deviations of transplanter's path. The main |
| positioning system (GPS) capability that can | | | | computer commands the robotic to stop at the |
| painstakingly transplant rice using sensors and | | | | end o a field, lifts and turns it to the next path. |
| computers which can be independent from human | | | | As observed, deviations from the planned path is |
| activities or the use of human labor. The | | | | at ten centimeters. |
| transplanting machine can make an accurate plan | | | | To measure direction and inclination of the |
| and direction on where to transplant around a six | | | | machine, an Inertia Measuring Unit (IMU) that has |
| inch long rice seedlings. The rice seedlings are | | | | fiber optic gyro sensors and accelerator is used. |
| grown over two weeks on a long mat, using | | | | The NARC is actually on a six row transplanter |
| hydro-phonics culture system. | | | | that already exists in Japan. Ninety nine percent of |
| The long mat containing the seedlings is unrolled | | | | rice farms in Japan are already mechanized and |
| from the machine, and each seedling is sown into | | | | even rice transplanting is reportedly in practice by |
| the soil, six in a row each time. Twenty rolls of | | | | one hundred percent of Japanese farms. |
| mats weighing a total of two hundred eighty | | | | Apparently, Japan's average rice yield is six metric |
| kilograms (280 kg.) are needed to cover a one | | | | tons per hectare compared to the developing |
| hectare area. The transplant robotic machine is | | | | countries of three and a half metric tons only per |
| estimated to cost a farmer for acquisition cost | | | | hectare. Transplanting maximizes land use and |
| around sixty thousand US dollars (US$ 60,000). | | | | cuts weed presence. Japan has its own |
| However, the technology is still under evaluation | | | | mechanized rice planter since 1966 yet, but it was |
| at present. But once proven ready for | | | | dependent with human labor pushing the |
| commercialization, price of the equipment may | | | | transplanter while the farm worker's feet are on |
| decrease to accommodate especially the farmers | | | | knee deep on the ground. |
| in developing nations where the traditional old | | | | With the present GPS system, Japan's rice |
| methods of rice production are still prevalent. | | | | production may be fully mechanized from land |
| Mass production of the same can lower the price | | | | preparation to harvest time. The NARC has |
| or cost of the technology. A Controller Area | | | | proposed that in order to be cost efficient in |
| Network (CAN) bus is set up to oversea the | | | | producing this farm equipment technology, it has |
| activities of the rice transplanter through its | | | | to compact the system by combining the sensors |
| Equipment Control Unit (ECU), where all the | | | | and computer segments on a rice transplanter, |
| sensors, motors and a main computer are all | | | | combine harvester, fertilizer and a tractor |
| connected. | | | | segments are shared as the first stage of their |
| Prior to the transplanting operation of the | | | | plan. |
| machine, the four corners of the field and the | | | | In the next stage, they are planning to develop an |
| travel path have to be plotted. During | | | | autonomous combine harvester using the |
| transplanting, the main computer controls actions | | | | Controller Area Network (CAN) bus to share with |
| to minimize the deviation from the desired travel | | | | GPS receiver, IMU and a main computer attached |
| path in accordance to position and direction data. | | | | to the rice planter. |
| The travel speed of the transplant robotic | | | | |