Robots running on ceiling-mounted tracks may someday revolutionize broiler-house management by cutting labor costs and improving operational efficiencies.
The Scout autonomous robot is the first autonomous robot to run on a ceiling track in broiler houses. It was introduced in 2023 by AGCO’s Cumberland equipment brand.
“As this system travels throughout the house, it collects numerous parameters including ammonia, airspeed, temperature and humidity,” explained Tanner Thornton, University of Tennessee-Knoxville research technician.
“Scout also collects health and welfare parameters, including suspicious droppings for early disease detection, mortalities and free usable space calculations,” he added.
Using these data, the system then develops reports for the producer on how the current flock compares to previous flocks and prepares a map of mortalities. Read more