Greater Sydney Local Land Services field robot trial at Richmond

Hort Innovation, the University of Sydney and Greater Sydney Local Land Services invite local vegetable growers to see a demonstration of RIPPA (Robot for Intelligent Perception and Precision Application) at the Greater Sydney Demonstration Farm on Southeer Road at  Richmond.

The RIPPA robot will help growers by undertaking a number of farming activities autonomously.

Created at the Australian Centre for Field Robotics, the RIPPA robot aims to reduce farm input costs such as labour and fertiliser, as well as improve yield of vegetables.

The development of the robot is being led by University of Sydney’s Professor Salah Sukkarieh, Director of Research and Innovation at the centre. “Automation allows real improvements in farm productivity and efficiency,” he said.

“This can include reducing input costs such as chemicals through only applying them to the plants that need them, or being able to keep going after workers would normally have gone home for the day.”

RIPPA will be demonstrating what it can do on a lettuce crop at the demonstration farm trial at Richmond

Greater Sydney Senior Land Services Officer for mixed farming, Peter Conasch said the demo day was “a great opportunity to see RIPPA in action and talk to the team behind its development”.

“Growers and anyone interested are invited to attend the workshop on Friday, December 1, kicking off with a free barbecue lunch from 12pm with the demonstration to be held from 1-2.30pm,” he said.

To RSVP ring Renee Pearson on 4724 2121.

The event is part of the Greater Sydney Local Land Services VegNET NSW project which is funded by Hort Innovation using the vegetable levy and funding from the federal government. 

Volunteers who love to garden and tinker are needed to support people with a disability to do projects at Richmond. Tasks also include woodwork, building and maintenance, and candlemaking. Gardening skills desirable, but not essential. Shifts are weekdays, 9am-4pm. Contact: 9891 4522.