←back to thread

How dairy robots are changing work for cows and farmers

(spectrum.ieee.org)
225 points DonHopkins | 5 comments | 15 Apr 25 22:26 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
Show context
bombledmonk ◴[16 Apr 25 02:59 UTC] No.43700967[source]▶
I toured a farm in the middle of nowhere in northern MN 7 years ago with this exact system.

Laser Guided Teat Seeking Milker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTERLJDKsIw

Automatic Crane feed loading system for the Roomba-like robots https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDEIcZwQa-o

Reverse Roomba-like automatic feeding robot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-QFB827U-M

replies(2): >>43701251 #>>43701534 #
1. ethbr1 ◴[16 Apr 25 03:50 UTC] No.43701251[source]▶
If anyone is near eastern Tennessee, I'd recommend the Sweetwater Valley Farm tour (in Sweetwater, TN).

They have the same Lely automatic milking machines from the article, and you can watch them do their thing.

Honestly, the teat-cleaning is the neatest part -- you realize how much more hygienic a mindless automaton can be.

replies(2): >>43706382 #>>43710482 #
2. rpmisms ◴[16 Apr 25 14:56 UTC] No.43706382[source]▶
I saw eastern TN and got excited, but you just mean east-ish TN. Johnson City matters too!
replies(1): >>43710544 #
3. ahartman00 ◴[16 Apr 25 21:16 UTC] No.43710482[source]▶
I grew up on a farm, and worked at two others many years ago. We washed the teats before putting the machine on, and dipped them after. But yeah a mindless automaton wont sneeze, or forget to do their job :)
replies(1): >>43710565 #
4. ethbr1 ◴[16 Apr 25 21:22 UTC] No.43710544[source]▶
TN has a lot of more-directions :D

All the love to east-of-Knoxville

5. ethbr1 ◴[16 Apr 25 21:24 UTC] No.43710565[source]▶
Honestly, it was Matrix-woah watching the machine laser-target a teat, wash it, then suction on. All gently enough the cow didn't care.

Turns out cow biscuits are a good motivator. (And taste kind of like wheat bran without any sugar and with more hay)