While most of his peers would use the internet for scrolling social media, Aryan Singh, a 17-year-old from Rajasthan’s Kota, would use this technology to hunt for the world’s latest technologies. Singh, who was raised on a farm, came up with the concept of a rover, called ‘AgRobot’, in his tenth grade because he wanted to make farming easier for his father. Singh’s inquisitive mind would search for answers as he closely observed his family’s struggles with issues like crop loss from diseases, and climate change.
All Images Courtesy: Aryan Singh
“I grew up watching my family toil in the fields, and I wanted to create something that could ease their burden,” shared Singh in an interview with Science India.
The rover, which took four years to methodically build, incorporates state-of-the-art technology to help farmers with a variety of agricultural activities, including loading, cutting, irrigation, and soil tracking. This project was started by Singh in 2020, and every year after then, it has been improved upon and refined. Singh successfully created the first AgRobot prototype in 2023, following nearly three years of development.
Singh won the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2024 for AgRobot in the category of science and technology. Nine boys and 10 girls from 18 states and Union Territories received the awards from the President of India, Droupadi Murmu on January 22 in New Delhi.
“I had this concept while I was in the 10th grade. The lockdown gave me plenty of time to research topics and create my concept. Even though I was very young, I knew there might be a solution, but I had no idea about the state of technology at the time. As my curiosity grew, I decided to pursue a BTech degree. My comprehension of the workings of machines and artificial intelligence has been much improved by this decision,” he explained.
AgRobot reduces a farmer’s labour through the use of cameras to monitor crops and a seed dropper for planting and watering. Additionally, it features soil sensors to detect pests and keep an eye on crop health. It’s a smart farming gadget that helps with soil health assessment, insect detection, and irrigation process optimisation using AI and remote control.
“We have enabled remote control of the robot through the use of IoT. For example, you can log in to the programme I designed and use the robot if you want to use it from Jaipur city while your crops are in Kota. Additionally, soil moisture sensors are available to assist farmers in analysing their soil and searching for pests. If necessary, the dropper can also be used to spray pesticides and irrigate the land,” said Singh.
This means that Singh’s father can now use the device to remotely handle a variety of agricultural duties from the comfort of his house, including monitoring water levels, regulating irrigation pumps, identifying crop illnesses, and protecting the fields.
Along with being inventive, the robot represents Singh’s dedication to efficiency and sustainability. AgRobot runs only on solar energy with the help of a piezoelectric panel. Electricity is produced by the pressure in the tyres and is stored in batteries for use at night. The technology is self-sufficient and capable of smoothly transitioning between piezoelectric and solar power.
Although making of the prototype costs Rs 50,000, Singh expects lower costs with mass manufacturing. “The majority of farmers cannot afford the machines and innovations that are available to monitor the crop, prevent diseases, and eradicate pests. Many attempt to borrow money and continue making repayments, which furthers their downward spiral into poverty. My goal was to design a tiny, reasonably priced device that would help farmers with multiple issues,” Singh added.
With praise flowing in and early support from the Rajasthan government’s iStart project, Singh hopes AgRobot will be commercially available from next year.
Singh conveys his appreciation for iStart’s incubation, lab facilities, and general help. He added that his creativity and commitment were not overlooked.
The young innovator’s idea has been appreciated by Atal Innovation Mission of NITI Ayog, Rajasthani Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and former Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.
Singh’s path from concept to invention highlights the potential of adolescent creativity and willpower. He has not only developed a game-changing answer with AgRobot but has also stoked optimism for a more technologically advanced agricultural future.
“By being innovative, I hope to uplift our nation’s industrious farmers who toil day and night to produce the food we eat. Seeing so many people recognise the robot makes me feel incredibly honoured. My goal is to get in touch with every single farmer of the country,” shared Singh.
*The writer is Associate Editor, Science India.
