Eastwood C R, Dela Rue B, Edwards J P, Jago J
DairyNZ Ltd., Lincoln, New Zealand.
Front Robot AI. 2022 Jul 15;9:914850. doi: 10.3389/frobt.2022.914850. eCollection 2022.
Application of robotics and automation in pasture-grazed agriculture is in an emergent phase. Technology developers face significant challenges due to aspects such as the complex and dynamic nature of biological systems, relative cost of technology versus farm labor costs, and specific market characteristics in agriculture. Overlaying this are socio-ethical issues around technology development, and aspects of responsible research and innovation. There are numerous examples of technology being developed but not adopted in pasture-grazed farming, despite the potential benefits to farmers and/or society, highlighting a disconnect in the innovation system. In this perspective paper, we propose a "responsibility by design" approach to robotics and automation innovation, using development of batch robotic milking in pasture-grazed dairy farming as a case study. The framework we develop is used to highlight the wider considerations that technology developers and policy makers need to consider when envisaging future innovation trajectories for robotics in smart farming. These considerations include the impact on work design, worker well-being and safety, changes to farming systems, and the influences of market and regulatory constraints.
机器人技术和自动化在牧场放牧型农业中的应用正处于起步阶段。由于生物系统的复杂性和动态性、技术成本与农场劳动力成本的相对关系以及农业的特定市场特征等方面，技术开发者面临着重大挑战。除此之外，围绕技术开发存在社会伦理问题，以及负责任的研究与创新方面的问题。尽管对农民和/或社会有潜在益处，但仍有许多技术在牧场放牧型养殖中虽已开发却未被采用的例子，这凸显了创新系统中的脱节现象。在这篇观点论文中，我们以牧场放牧型奶牛养殖中的批量机器人挤奶技术发展为例，提出一种针对机器人技术和自动化创新的“设计即责任”方法。我们所构建的框架用于突出技术开发者和政策制定者在设想智能农业中机器人技术未来创新轨迹时需要考虑的更广泛因素。这些因素包括对工作设计、工人福祉与安全的影响、农业系统的变化以及市场和监管限制的影响。
