Development of a Multipurpose Agricultural Robotic System: An Experimental Study

India’s agricultural sector faces various challenges, including the adoption of sustainable production methods to improve yields and efficiency. Traditional farming methods demand intensive manual labor, which has become increasingly scarce due to an aging rural workforce and growing urban migration. The objective of this paper is to use automated technology that can increase yield while requiring less labor and lower cost. The use of large agricultural machines leads to soil compaction, which obstructs root growth and decreases crop yield due to the low absorption of nutrients and water. To address this issue, a Multipurpose Agricultural Robotic System (MARS) has been developed that is both lightweight and affordable, unlike other existing technologies that perform tasks sequentially. The Raspberry Pi 4B serves as the central controller, interfacing with soil and climate sensors for environmental monitoring. Field prototype tests indicated a sowing spacing error of 2.3 ± 0.4 cm, weed detection accuracy of 91%, weeding success rate of 87%, and a harvesting damage rate of only 6%, with an average field coverage speed of 18 m²/hour and battery autonomy of 3.5 hours. This robot has the potential to revolutionize agriculture by introducing a modern approach to traditional methods. The novelty of MARS lies in integrating sowing, weeding, harvesting, and soil monitoring into a single low-cost, lightweight platform, offering a distinct advantage over commercial robots. This innovation aims to support farmers by offering more sustainable and productive harvests.