The future is robotics - and students at The Armidale School will be among the first in the state to trial innovative technology that could revolutionise small scale horticulture and cropping.
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The Digital Farmhand, developed by ag tech company Agerris, has been designed to assist smallholder row and tree crop farmers to better manage yields and crop health, including farmers in developing nations.
At present it has programmable functionality for weeding, sowing and spraying, with more to be developed.
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TAS is one of seven NSW regional schools and the only independent school to take part in Agerris' Ag Robotics STEM Program, with around a dozen more schools taking part in 2020.
At TAS it will be used this term in classes across Middle and Senior School, including Technology (Year 7), STEM (Year 8), Stage 5 electives in Agriculture and Electronics and by the co-curricular Embedded Technology Club.
Director of Studies, Seonia Wark, said TAS was delighted to be part of the program, given an increased demand for innovative STEM learning opportunities from students.
"It is a natural fit for our academic program, with Stage 5 electives such as Future of Food reflecting the growing links between technology and agricultural science," she said.
"The production of food and fibre will need smart solutions requiring young people to have STEM skills and the Digital Farmhand application will help them develop those, regardless of what career paths they pursue."
Agerris' Head of Engagement and STEM spokesperson Nada Sukkarieh said the program also aimed to break down the digital divide between city and country.
"What a smart platform like this can do is ignite a passion in regional students to consider agriculture as an exciting career with boundless technological opportunities and we are delighted that The Armidale School is providing the opportunity for that," she said.
The Digital Farmhand will be on show at TAS STEM Day on September 7.