A new agricultural robot developed by the Department of Mechanical Engineering at IIT Kharagpur is now ready to step into India’s farmlands after years of meticulous research, design, and testing. Unlike conventional tools or drone-based systems used in modern farming, this is a ground-based semi-automatic tracked mobile manipulator designed specifically for uneven and unpredictable Indian terrain. The team behind it, led by Professor Dilip Kumar Pratihar and a group of PhD scholars and project students, has recently secured an Indian patent for the innovation.
The robot, which combines mobility and precision, offers a new way to identify and manage plant diseases. Rather than hovering above crops like drones and collecting data prone to distortion from aerial disturbances, this system uses camera-based image analysis at ground level. This allows it to detect diseases with greater accuracy and apply pesticides only where necessary.
Professor Pratihar introduced the concept in 2018 during a seminar hosted by CDAC Kolkata titled “Trends and Applications of ICT in Agriculture (TRACT).” Speaking at the event, he had said, “Agricultural land is neither completely flat nor uniformly rough,” pointing out the need for a system that could adjust to these realities. His proposed solution was a tracked mobile platform combined with a robotic arm capable of mimicking human hand movements. The current robot, now a physical reality, stays true to that original vision.
Adapting to the Realities of Indian Farming
India’s agricultural lands are as varied as they are vast. From hard, cracked soil in drought-prone regions to the waterlogged stretches of rice paddies, most of the country’s farms are not tailored for heavy machinery. This is why the IIT Kharagpur team focused on building a robot with a tracked base rather than wheels. Tracks distribute weight more evenly and provide better grip on rough or shifting surfaces, giving the machine a steady footing as it moves through different field conditions.
Mounted atop this mobile base is a serial manipulator — a robotic arm that can reach out and interact with crops in much the same way a human hand might. This makes it possible for the robot to perform specific tasks like identifying leaf discoloration or damage patterns caused by pests. Once a disease is confirmed, the robot can precisely spray pesticides only where they are needed, minimizing chemical use and limiting harm to beneficial organisms and soil health.
Reducing Risk and Increasing Safety
One of the major issues Indian farmers face during the growing season is exposure to harmful chemicals. Pesticide spraying, especially when done manually and without adequate safety gear, leads to serious health complications over time. The robot developed at IIT Kharagpur addresses this issue by keeping human involvement at a distance.
By using machine vision to identify diseased crops and automated nozzles for spraying, the system can treat affected areas without putting farmers in direct contact with chemicals. “It’s not just about increasing productivity,” a project member explained. “It’s about making farming safer and more precise.”
Beyond the health factor, reducing unnecessary pesticide use is also crucial for food safety. Excess residues on produce can make their way to consumers, leading to broader health concerns. The robotic system’s targeted spraying mechanism helps curb this problem while preserving crop quality.
Backed by Government Support and Field-Tested
The development of this robotic system was made possible through funding from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India. This backing not only gave the project a financial push but also lent it national importance as part of broader efforts to incorporate digital tools and automation into agriculture.
Manufacturing of the system has been taken up by TECHNIDO, an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). Field testing has already been conducted, and the robot has proven its ability to navigate and perform under actual farming conditions. A demonstration video showing the robot at work has been made available to the public, offering a glimpse into how this machine interacts with crops and terrain in real-time.
Also Read: BeeHero Unveils HeroLink: Solar-Powered Gateway to Smarter Pollination
Recognition for Collaborative Innovation
The patent for the robotic system has been granted to Professor Dilip Kumar Pratihar and his co-inventors Pradeep Nahak, Atanu Jana, and others who contributed to the project. Their efforts bring together academic insight, practical engineering, and an understanding of the day-to-day challenges faced by Indian farmers.
The team’s decision to focus on a semi-automatic system, rather than a fully autonomous one, also reflects a practical approach. Rather than attempting to eliminate human presence in the fields altogether, the robot is designed to assist and complement manual labor where needed, easing the workload and improving accuracy.
A Step Toward Accessible Farm Technology
While the development of agricultural robots is often associated with high-tech farming in wealthier nations, this machine has been built with India’s small and marginal farmers in mind. It’s not intended for vast plantations or commercial monocultures alone. Instead, its compact design, maneuverability, and selective spraying capabilities make it a viable option even for those working on limited landholdings.
More importantly, the robot represents an effort to tailor agricultural technology to Indian conditions — rather than import systems developed for entirely different farming ecosystems. Its success in field tests suggests that such innovations can be scaled thoughtfully, offering tools that truly work for local needs.
While the robot is not yet available on the market at scale, its development marks a step toward bringing more useful, accessible automation into Indian farming. The focus now will likely shift toward refining the design, reducing production costs, and making the system commercially viable. For now, the achievement stands as a result of years of collaboration, patience, and iterative development — and as a reminder that useful technology often begins with listening to the land and the people who work it.
As Professor Pratihar’s original remarks at the seminar suggested, understanding the complexity and texture of Indian farmland was the first step. Now, with the machine built and field-tested, the focus is turning to what this kind of tool can mean for the future of farming — one that combines human experience with technological assistance, rather than replacing it.