Digitising farming: Telangana to launch India's first agri-robotics lab at PJTAU today

HYDERABAD: In a first for the country, Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University (PJTAU) is set to launch the Agri Robotics IoT Solutions for Agriculture (ARISA) Lab on Saturday.
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Supported by BITS Pilani and IIT Hyderabad, the initiative marks a major step toward digitising agriculture in Telangana. The university aims to unveil its first robotic model within a year - designed specifically to assist in weeding and harvesting tasks.
University officials highlighted a growing concern: The average age of farmers in the state is now around 60, and the younger generation is showing less interest in agriculture.
With the prospect of a labour shortage looming, there's an urgent need to make farming more efficient and less labour-intensive. The ARISA Lab will focus not only on robotics but also on Internet of Things (IoT) innovations, pesticide control, and weed management technologies.
Speaking about the initiative, vice-chancellor Aldas Janaiah said, "In the coming years, fewer people may be willing to work in agriculture, so we must develop advanced tools.
The robotics lab will function under our newly established Centre for Digital Agriculture. The State Bank of India has sanctioned ₹12 crore for this initiative. We plan to roll out a customised robot model within a year that can handle weeding and harvesting.
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He said the long-term vision is to digitally transform agriculture in Telangana by 2047. Apart from the ARISA Lab, the centre will house three other advanced labs aimed at developing AI-based solutions to tackle key agricultural challenges.
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One such unit is a drone lab, working in partnership with the Telangana Drone Academy to train farmers in drone operations.
A third lab has started piloting digital solutions in Vemulawada. According to officials, smart soil sensors deployed there can generate instant reports on soil nutrient levels - functioning like an ATM dispensing data.
"Understanding soil nutrition is crucial for choosing the right cropping patterns and ensuring better yields," an official explained. The same lab is also developing sensor-based systems for pesticide and water management, with alerts that can warn farmers of pest threats in advance. Technical and financial backing for this effort is being provided by Germany.

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Time of India

7 hours ago

• Time of India

Digitising farming: Telangana to launch India's first agri-robotics lab at PJTAU today

HYDERABAD: In a first for the country, Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University (PJTAU) is set to launch the Agri Robotics IoT Solutions for Agriculture (ARISA) Lab on Saturday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Supported by BITS Pilani and IIT Hyderabad, the initiative marks a major step toward digitising agriculture in Telangana. The university aims to unveil its first robotic model within a year - designed specifically to assist in weeding and harvesting tasks. University officials highlighted a growing concern: The average age of farmers in the state is now around 60, and the younger generation is showing less interest in agriculture. With the prospect of a labour shortage looming, there's an urgent need to make farming more efficient and less labour-intensive. The ARISA Lab will focus not only on robotics but also on Internet of Things (IoT) innovations, pesticide control, and weed management technologies. Speaking about the initiative, vice-chancellor Aldas Janaiah said, "In the coming years, fewer people may be willing to work in agriculture, so we must develop advanced tools. The robotics lab will function under our newly established Centre for Digital Agriculture. The State Bank of India has sanctioned ₹12 crore for this initiative. We plan to roll out a customised robot model within a year that can handle weeding and harvesting. " He said the long-term vision is to digitally transform agriculture in Telangana by 2047. Apart from the ARISA Lab, the centre will house three other advanced labs aimed at developing AI-based solutions to tackle key agricultural challenges. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now One such unit is a drone lab, working in partnership with the Telangana Drone Academy to train farmers in drone operations. A third lab has started piloting digital solutions in Vemulawada. According to officials, smart soil sensors deployed there can generate instant reports on soil nutrient levels - functioning like an ATM dispensing data. "Understanding soil nutrition is crucial for choosing the right cropping patterns and ensuring better yields," an official explained. The same lab is also developing sensor-based systems for pesticide and water management, with alerts that can warn farmers of pest threats in advance. Technical and financial backing for this effort is being provided by Germany.

Business Standard

a day ago

• Business Standard

TCS expands SDV capabilities with new centres in Germany and Romania

India's largest IT services firm, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), today announced the expansion of its capabilities in the rapidly evolving Software-Defined Vehicles (SDV) space. TCS has set up two new automotive delivery centres in Germany — located in Munich and Villingen-Schwenningen — as well as an engineering centre in Romania. These new hubs mark a strategic move to help TCS' global automotive clients accelerate their transition to next-generation mobility solutions. The delivery centres in Germany will support automakers in developing and deploying TCS' software-driven services that cater to autonomous driving, infotainment, safety systems and connected vehicle technologies. Meanwhile, the engineering centre in Romania will focus on designing and building advanced automotive software platforms to support early-stage development and innovation. This expansion is part of TCS' long-term strategy to strengthen its end-to-end automotive software capabilities, chip-to-cloud technologies and services. Regu Ayyaswamy, senior vice-president and global head, Internet of Things (IoT) and Digital Engineering at TCS, said: 'These new centres will position TCS at the forefront of automotive innovation, enabling us to deliver state-of-the-art solutions in autonomous driving and advanced cockpit systems. This expansion reaffirms our commitment to leading the transformation in the Software-Defined Vehicles space.' The strategic location of these centres will enable close collaboration with leading European original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and global automotive enterprises, providing nearshore capabilities. The new centres currently house over 100 professionals who will work alongside more than 2,000 SDV engineers across TCS' global locations. TCS' expansion aligns with the global automotive industry's shift towards software-defined, connected and autonomous mobility. As demand grows for intelligent vehicle technologies, TCS is well-positioned to lead this transformation. Europe is a strategically significant location for TCS' automotive delivery hubs due to its robust automotive industry and the presence of several leading manufacturers in the region. Anupam Singhal, president and business group head, manufacturing, TCS, said: 'The shift to software-defined vehicles marks a defining moment for the automotive industry. With the launch of these new centres, we are deepening our commitment to support OEMs in building the next generation of intelligent, connected and sustainable vehicles. This expansion is a key milestone in our journey toward Future-Ready Mobility — where software, engineering and design, backed by AI, converge to deliver safer, more personalised and continuously enriching experiences for drivers and passengers.' TCS has been serving automotive customers in Europe for the past 25 years and has a strong presence in automotive hubs across the region. The organisation has been delivering innovative solutions in digital cockpit, electrification, autonomous vehicles and connected car ecosystems through digital engineering, IoT, cloud and data analytics. TCS also leverages generative AI to accelerate product development with feature generation and testing in SDVs, enabling faster innovation and enhanced personalisation. TCS' presence in Europe enhances its position in the global automotive value chain by leveraging local talent and expertise, fostering closer collaboration with clients and improving customer satisfaction. TCS has a long-standing commitment to serving as a trusted IT partner for European enterprises, with a presence in the region for over 45 years. TCS Europe has over 15,000 employees.

The Hindu

2 days ago

• The Hindu

News from the world of Education: June 19, 2025

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