CoRoSect’s Groundbreaking Pilot Unveils the Power of Synergy in Insect Farming and Robotics+

CoRoSect recently concluded its 1st pilot at the Norwegian insect farm at INVERTAPRO. This amazing initiative brought together technology developers and insect breeders to test out the immense achievements that can be realized through their collaboration. 

INVERTAPRO was a great base to test innovative technologies, specifically tailored for emerging industries like insect farming. The piloting activities revealed amazing potential for automating and expanding breeding processes. As a result of the challenging environmental conditions in insect farming and the complex processes required for insect rearing pushed the technology limits, producing more reliable nad powerful innovations.     

“For the first time, we have assembled all CoRoSect robots in one place. This has enabled us to demonstrate what these robots can achieve together and where we still want to become better. Our partner INVERTAPRO has chosen some challenging tasks for the robots, to push the limits of insect farming. The industry of insect farming has proven to be a perfect catalyst for driving innovation in robotics and artificial intelligence.”

Dr. Rico Möckel, Maastricht University

The automatic visual inspection system (VIS), developed by CERTH, impressed with its ability to automatically detect, measure size, analyse the colour of insects by utilizing Artificial Intelligence. For that reason, the VIS system has the potential to replace traditional quality management methods in insect farms and thus revolutionizing the industry. Another important technology, developed by CERTH is the Virtual Reality (VR) system that proves to be highly effective, utilizing VR glasses and sensory gloves to train workers in robot programming. Hence, the VR system will be able to enable workers to quickly acquire the necessary skills to operate robotic devices. These technologies hold tremendous promise in improving operational efficiency and worker training within the insect farming sector.

To reduce tedious and physically demanding tasks, CoRoSect successfully deployed a specialized robotic cell for crate handling in insect farming, namely the D-Robot, provided and developed by Robotnik. This cutting-edge solution, designed for Industry 4.0., demonstrated a success rate exceeding 80% in dealing with load positioning uncertainties. It is poised to significantly enhance productivity in insect farming, offering flexible and adaptable solutions for various contexts and factories.

To further empower insect farming, OAMK developed wireless sensors capable of measuring and transmitting vital data. These practical sensors, tailored to the unique environmental conditions of each crate, measure temperature, humidity, CO2, NH3, and moisture levels. They provide valuable insights into insect behaviour and environmental conditions, supporting farmers in optimizing their cultivation effort.

The successful pilot program at INVERTAPRO showcased the transformative potential of robotics, automation, and technology in insect farming. By leveraging the combined expertise of CoRoSect’s experts in insect farming and technology, the industry can achieve enhanced efficiency, accuracy, and worker training, ushering in a new era of innovation.

The CoRoSect project gathering 19 partners across Europe is funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme and all the information is available on the project’s website, as well as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Youtube.