A partnership between Scotland’s leading technology and agricultural research institutions is developing 5G-connected robotics applications that enable farmers to implement precision agriculture techniques while addressing rural connectivity challenges. The collaboration between Heriot-Watt University’s The National Robotarium, James Hutton Institute, Scotland 5G Centre, Boston Dynamics, and Freshwave is advancing robotic systems that can perform precision farming tasks – including crop health monitoring, targeted fertiliser application, and soil condition assessment – through portable 5G private networks.

      苏格兰领先的技术和农业研究机构携手合作，正在开发 5G 联网机器人应用技术。这项技术能让农民采用精准农业技术，同时解决农村地区的连通性难题。赫瑞 - 瓦特大学国家机器人中心、詹姆斯・赫顿研究所、苏格兰 5G 中心、波士顿动力公司和 Freshwave 展开合作，通过便携式 5G 专用网络，推动能执行精准农业任务的机器人系统发展，这些任务包括作物健康监测、定向施肥以及土壤状况评估等。

Through private, mobile 5G connectivity, robots like Boston Dynamics’ Spot can undertake real-time scanning and mapping operations in remote or rural settings (photography by Ben Glasgow)

通过专用的移动5G网络连接，像波士顿动力公司的Spot这样的机器人能够在偏远或乡村地区进行实时扫描和测绘作业（摄影：本·格拉斯哥）

The technology addresses critical challenges facing modern agriculture, such as rising input costs, labour shortages, environmental regulations, and the need to increase food production while reducing environmental impact. Traditional farming approaches often involve uniform treatment across entire fields, but 5G-connected robotics enable plant-by-plant precision, applying resources only where needed.

The robotic systems use high-speed 5G connections to communicate with other robotic devices securely in real time as well as transmit detailed information about crops, soil conditions, and growing environments, enabling farmers to make informed decisions based on current field conditions.

      该技术解决了现代农业面临的关键挑战，如投入成本上升、劳动力短缺、环境法规限制，以及在提高粮食产量的同时减少环境影响的需求。传统农业方法通常对整片田地进行统一处理，而 5G 联网机器人则能实现逐株精准操作，只在需要的地方投入资源。这些机器人系统利用高速 5G 连接，与其他机器人设备进行安全的实时通信，并传输有关作物、土壤条件和生长环境的详细信息，让农民能够根据当前的田间状况做出明智决策。

A key breakthrough has been addressing connectivity limitations in rural areas. Agricultural operations requiring data-intensive robotic applications often face inadequate mobile network coverage and bandwidth constraints. The partnership has worked with portable 5G private networks that can be rapidly deployed on farms, providing the high-speed, low-latency connectivity essential for real-time robotic operations.

      一个关键突破在于解决了农村地区的连接限制问题。需要大量数据的机器人应用的农业作业，常常面临移动网络覆盖不足和带宽限制的问题。该合作项目采用了可在农场快速部署的便携式5G专用网络，为实时机器人作业提供了至关重要的高速、低延迟连接。 

The robotic systems can stream high-definition video, generate detailed field mapping and, with under-development visual recognition systems, identify issues such as disease, pest infestations, or water stress significantly earlier than traditional monitoring methods. Applications that previously required expensive specialised equipment, technical expertise, and optimal weather conditions can now be implemented more efficiently and cost-effectively.

      机器人系统可以流式传输高清视频、生成详细的田间地图，并且借助正在开发的视觉识别系统，能够比传统监测方法更早地发现疾病、虫害或水分胁迫等问题。以前需要昂贵的专用设备、专业技术知识和适宜天气条件才能开展的应用，现在能够更高效、更经济地实施。

With global food production required to increase by more than 50% by 2050 while reducing environmental impact, advanced agricultural technologies are becoming essential. The agricultural sector, which contributes £2.2 billion to Scotland’s economy, is positioned to lead development of practical precision farming solutions that address real-world operational challenges.

      到 2050 年，全球粮食产量需要增加 50% 以上，同时还要减少环境影响，因此先进的农业技术正变得至关重要。为苏格兰经济贡献 22 亿英镑的农业部门，有望在开发实用精准农业解决方案方面发挥引领作用，以应对现实中的运营挑战。

Project Manager at The National Robotarium, Ruth Plant

国家机器人研究中心项目经理露丝·普兰特

Following a demonstration of the 5G-connected robotics technologies at The National Robotarium, Ruth Plant, Project Manager, said: “What’s exciting about this project is seeing the technology develop from initial concept to working demonstration. We’ve successfully shown that portable 5G networks can provide the connectivity needed for real-time robotic operations in agricultural settings. The integration of these technologies creates opportunities for precision farming that weren’t previously possible in areas with limited connectivity.

      在国家机器人中心举行的 5G 联网机器人技术演示后，项目经理露丝・普兰特表示：“这个项目令人兴奋之处在于，见证了技术从最初的概念发展到实际的演示。我们已经成功证明，便携式5G网络能够为农业环境中的实时机器人作业提供所需的连接。这些技术的整合，为精准农业创造了在以前网络连接有限的地区无法实现的机会。 ” 

“This partnership demonstrates exactly what the National Robotarium was designed to achieve – bringing together leading academic research, innovative companies, and industry expertise to develop practical solutions to real-world challenges. Our facility provides the collaborative environment where these breakthrough technologies can be developed, tested, and demonstrated to the partners and stakeholders who can help bring them to market.”

      “这种合作恰恰体现了国家机器人馆的设立宗旨 —— 汇集顶尖学术研究、创新企业和行业专业知识，开发解决现实世界挑战的实用方案。我们的设施提供了协作环境，使这些突破性技术能够得到开发、测试，并向有助于将其推向市场的合作伙伴和利益相关者进行展示。”

The technology was demonstrated at a 5G-connected robotics showcase, held at The National Robotarium on 30 June 2025 (photography by Ben Glasgow) 

这项技术在2025年6月30日于国家机器人研究中心举办的一场5G连接机器人展示活动中进行了展示（摄影：本·格拉斯哥） 

Andrew Christie, agritech specialist at The James Hutton Institute, said: “As an evolution of precision farming technology being used in modern agriculture, robotics are a next step in the progression towards data driven farming practices, but a barrier to uptake has been the speed and reliability for real time communication and a need for manual intervention for data processing. “With the integration of 5G private networks in robotics we can address these issues enabling high volumes of data to be transmitted at low latency and allowing us to use our current equipment more effectively, whilst also enabling future progress in swarm robotics, real-time sensors for digital twinning and active data processing through cloud computing. “The use of remotely deployable 5G private networks as showcased at The National Robotarium and The James Hutton Institute provides relevance to all rural settings, and agricultural businesses regardless of farm type.”

      詹姆斯·赫顿研究所的农业技术专家安德鲁·克里斯蒂表示：“作为现代农业中使用的精准农业技术的一种演进，机器人技术是朝着数据驱动型农业实践发展的下一步，但采用该技术的一个障碍是实时通信的速度和可靠性，以及数据处理需要人工干预。随着5G专用网络在机器人技术中的整合，我们可以解决这些问题，实现大量数据的低延迟传输，并使我们能够更有效地使用现有设备，同时也为群体机器人技术、用于数字孪生的实时传感器以及通过云计算进行的主动数据处理的未来发展提供支持。在国家机器人中心和詹姆斯·赫顿研究所展示的可远程部署的5G专用网络的应用，与所有农村环境以及各种类型农场的农业企业都息息相关。” 

Ian Sharp, Head of Delivery at the Scotland 5G Centre, said: “The Scotland 5G Centre (S5GC) is focussed on enabling Scotland to unlock the benefits of advanced wireless connectivity, so we are very pleased to play an active role in this partnership. “The collaboration highlights clearly how advanced wireless communications (5G) can enable new and exciting applications of robotics in an agricultural setting. It’s easy to see from the project how the 5G connected robotics can provide new opportunities to increase productivity and reduce costs. “It’s also important to note that the partnership itself highlights the collaborative nature and strength of Scotland’s innovation ecosystem, particularly in working closely with industry partners. “We were able to seed this project through use of funding from our Innovate UK Technology Mission Fund Programme. The IUK Programme ended in March 2025 and enabled a number of other 5G related projects, some of which continued the theme of addressing rural connectivity through the use of mobile 5G test networks deployed in harsh outdoor conditions.”

      苏格兰5G中心交付主管伊恩·夏普表示：“苏格兰5G中心致力于让苏格兰释放先进无线连接的优势，因此我们很高兴能在这一合作关系中发挥积极作用。此次合作清楚地凸显了先进无线通信（5G）如何在农业环境中实现机器人技术新颖且令人兴奋的应用。从该项目中很容易看出，5G连接的机器人技术如何为提高生产力和降低成本提供新机遇。同样重要的是要注意，这种合作关系本身彰显了苏格兰创新生态系统的协作性和实力，尤其是在与行业合作伙伴密切合作方面。我们能够通过使用创新英国技术使命基金计划的资金为该项目提供启动资金。创新英国计划于2025年3月结束，并推动了许多其他与5G相关的项目，其中一些项目延续了通过在恶劣户外条件下部署移动5G测试网络来解决农村地区连接问题这一主题。” 

Robotics Engineer Hari operates the 5G-connected robot using VR

机器人工程师哈里使用虚拟现实技术操作5G联网机器人

Tom Bennett, Chief Technology Officer at Freshwave, said: “We’re proud to be enabling next-generation connectivity at the cutting edge of agritech research. Reliable, portable private 5G is unlocking new possibilities for robotics and automation, and we’re excited to support the National Robotarium as they help shape the future of sustainable agriculture alongside their partners and customers.” 

      Freshwave首席技术官汤姆·班尼特表示：“我们很自豪能够在农业科技研究的前沿推动下一代连接技术。可靠、便携的私有5G网络正在为机器人技术和自动化开辟新的可能性，我们很高兴能够支持国家机器人中心，因为他们与合作伙伴及客户共同助力塑造可持续农业的未来。”