Research and fabrication of a specialized autonomous robot prototype for paddy rice cultivation

Paddy rice cultivation is facing increasing pressure due to labor shortages, rising input costs, and the need for timely pest and disease monitoring. Autonomous robots integrating artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (AIoT) are considered a promising approach for agricultural automation; however, paddy field conditions characterized by soft muddy terrain, shallow flooding, and highly variable visual environments pose significant challenges to mobility and stable operation. This paper presents the research and fabrication of a specialized autonomous robot prototype for paddy rice cultivation, in which the mechanical structure, electronic system, and control architecture are coherently designed. The robot adopts a locomotion configuration consisting of two driven wheels combined with two passive caster wheels and is validated through field experiments conducted under water depths of 2 - 5 cm and mud depths of 10 - 25 cm. Experimental results show that the robot achieves an average traveling speed of 0,25 m/s, an average wheel sinkage of 39,6 mm, and maintains stable operation when the sinkage remains below 45 mm. These results confirm the suitability of the proposed robot for paddy rice cultivation and provide a foundation for the future integration of AIoT-based intelligent monitoring functions.