Vertical Farm Robot Automation Case Study Using a 6-axis F/T Sensor
- yjpark89
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Today, collaborative robots are rapidly expanding their applications across a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, service sectors, and Vertical Farm–based agriculture.In labor-intensive primary industries and manufacturing sites facing severe workforce shortages, the adoption of Agricultural Automation is accelerating. As a result, demand for robotic components such as sensors and end-effectors used alongside robots is also increasing.
Among these components, the 6-axis F/T sensor plays a critical role. Mounted on the robot wrist or end-effector, it enables weight measurement, precise force control, object manipulation, collision detection, and safe, high-precision task execution.
In this case study, we explore the role of force/torque sensing in Agricultural Automation and highlight a successful example of applying AIDIN ROBOITCS’ 6-axis F/T sensor to a real Vertical Farm system.
The Role of 6-axis F/T Sensors in Agricultural Automation
In recent years, agriculture has been rapidly evolving toward automated and digitally driven production systems. Technologies such as Vertical Farms, which enhance crop yield and quality through precise environmental control, are becoming increasingly widespread.
At the same time, Agricultural Robots, drones, and advanced automation equipment are actively being deployed for crop cultivation, harvesting, and improving the operational efficiency of agricultural machinery.
Within this Agricultural Automation environment, the 6-axis F/T sensor performs several essential functions to enable precise control and stable robotic operation.
1. Robot-Based Crop Management
Seed planting and yield optimization: By using a 6-axis F/T sensor to precisely control planting depth and spacing, Agricultural Robots can significantly improve productivity and consistency.
2. Crop Detection and Force Control
Vision-based force control: By combining visual sensors (active perception) with a 6-axis F/T sensor, robots can adjust force and torque according to target positions and shapes, enabling accurate manipulation in Vertical Farm environments.
3. Precision Harvesting and Improved Manipulation Efficiency
Crop harvesting: When a 6-axis F/T sensor is mounted on a robotic gripper, it measures real-time force and torque applied to fruits and vegetables, preventing damage caused by excessive force during harvesting.
Optimal harvesting strategy identification: Force and torque data collected by the sensor helps identify optimal contact angles where applied force is minimized, reducing crop damage and enabling more efficient harvesting strategies.
As the demand for precise force and torque control continues to grow across diverse agricultural tasks, selecting a sensor that can reliably deliver this performance in real-world environments has become a critical challenge in Agricultural Automation.
What Is AIDIN ROBOTICS’ 6-axis F/T Sensor?
To address these on-site requirements, AIDIN ROBOTICS provides 6-axis F/T sensors capable of measuring both force and torque across all axes (Fx, Fy, Fz, Tx, Ty, Tz). Among the two primary force/torque sensing technologies—strain gauge–based and capacitance-based—AIDIN ROBOTICS adopts a capacitance-based sensing method, offering several advantages over conventional strain gauge sensors.
High sensitivity and precision: By detecting minute changes in capacitance, the sensor simultaneously measures force and torque across multiple axes with high accuracy, delivering excellent sensing performance essential for Agricultural Robots.
Durability and long-term stability: Unlike strain gauge sensors, which may experience sensitivity degradation due to mechanical fatigue over time, capacitance-based sensors maintain stable performance and high reliability during long-term operation.
Environmental robustness: Built-in temperature compensation ensures consistent accuracy even under varying environmental conditions commonly found in Vertical Farm and agricultural settings.
Compact and lightweight design: The simple internal structure enables ultra-compact sensor designs, reducing space requirements and improving robot freedom of movement.
Cost competitiveness and scalability: The simplified structure allows efficient mass production through component assembly, reducing manufacturing costs and supporting scalable deployment in Agricultural Automation systems.
No additional amplification hardware required: Unlike strain gauge sensors that require external amplifiers for high-precision data, capacitance-based 6-axis F/T sensors operate without additional amplification equipment, simplifying system integration.
AIDIN ROBOTICS’ 6-axis F/T sensor provides the precise force and torque sensing required for Agricultural Automation and Agricultural Robots operating in Vertical Farm environments. By enabling accurate control, preventing crop damage, and ensuring stable robotic operation, the sensor plays a key role in advancing next-generation agricultural automation systems.
Vertical Farm Automation Case Study Using a 6-axis F/T Sensor
Enabling Agricultural Automation with Agricultural Robots in Vertical Farm Environments
As Vertical Farm automation continues to expand, Agricultural Automation is increasingly relying on precise force sensing to enable stable and damage-free crop handling. This case study explores how AIDIN ROBOTICS’ 6-axis F/T sensor was applied to Agricultural Robots operating in a Vertical Farm and how it contributed to improving overall automation performance.
⎮Customer Overview: Agricultural Automation Solution Provider
The customer is a Korea-based company specializing in Agricultural Automation systems for Vertical Farms, utilizing collaborative robots to automate crop cultivation, transplanting, and harvesting processes.
Based on prior experience with force/torque sensors from other vendors, an in-house researcher proposed adopting AIDIN Robotics’ 6-axis F/T sensor. After a technical and commercial evaluation, the solution was selected for the Vertical Farm automation project.
⎮Adopted Solution: 6-axis F/T Sensor for Agricultural Robots
To support Agricultural Automation tasks in a Vertical Farm environment, the customer implemented AIDIN ROBOTICS’ AFT200, a compact 6-axis F/T sensor designed for collaborative and agricultural robots.
The sensor was integrated with a LattePanda Sigma–based upper-level controller via CAN communication, using a CAN-to-USB interface for stable data transmission. The control system was developed in a Linux Ubuntu and ROS environment, with custom C++ code written in-house to enable force-based robot control.
⎮Why Agricultural Automation Requires 6-axis F/T Sensors
In Vertical Farm operations, Agricultural Robots are frequently used for delicate tasks such as crop transplanting and harvesting. These processes require precise force and torque control to prevent damage to plants while maintaining productivity.
During the development of the Agricultural Automation system, the customer identified the need for a 6-axis F/T sensor capable of providing real-time force feedback at the robot end-effector. After comparing multiple solutions, AIDIN Robotics’ sensor was selected due to its high performance, fast sampling rate, and strong cost competitiveness.
⎮Implementation: Force-Controlled Agricultural Robots in a Vertical Farm
The AFT200 6-axis F/T sensor was mounted between a UR10 collaborative robot and the end-effector, enabling real-time force control for Agricultural Robots operating within the Vertical Farm.
By utilizing force feedback from the 6-axis F/T sensor, the robot achieved stable and repeatable motions while maintaining consistent contact forces during crop handling tasks, a key requirement for reliable Agricultural Automation.
⎮Customer Feedback on the 6-axis F/T Sensor
The customer highlighted the compact size and lightweight design of the sensor, which allowed easy installation on robotic joints commonly used in Agricultural Robots. They also noted that the sensor’s measurement range slightly exceeds typical end-effector payload requirements, ensuring stable operation in Vertical Farm applications.
In addition, the high sampling rate of the 6-axis F/T sensor was evaluated as highly suitable for precision control and advanced algorithm development.Support for multiple communication interfaces further simplified system integration within the Agricultural Automation platform.
Results: Advancing Agricultural Automation in Vertical Farms
After implementing AIDIN ROBOTICS’ 6-axis F/T sensor, the customer successfully achieved accurate force/torque sensing and stable robot arm control for Agricultural Robots deployed in the Vertical Farm.
As a result, the Agricultural Automation system delivered two key improvements:
Enhanced completeness and reliability of the Vertical Farm automation system
Improved crop handling quality through precise force control
AIDIN ROBOTICS’ 6-axis F/T sensor enables reliable Agricultural Automation by providing precise force and torque measurement for Agricultural Robots operating in Vertical Farm environments. By preventing surface damage and ensuring consistent task execution, the solution supports high-quality automation not only in Vertical Farms but also across a wide range of agricultural and industrial applications.
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