Aryan Singh, an 18-year-old received the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar award for his achievements created an innovative device called the AgRobot, which is a rover powered by artificial intelligence (AI). This robot helps farmers by analyzing soil quality, checking the health of crops, and identifying pests and diseases that may affect their plants. His invention has earned him recognition and praise for its potential to support agriculture.

Aryan Singh was one of the 19 awardees, including nine boys and ten girls from 18 states and union territories, who received the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar from President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on January 22.

My innovation is my way of supporting the hardworking farmers of our country who tirelessly cultivate the food we consume. I feel deeply honoured to witness the robot being recognised by so many,” he shares.

So, what drives an 18-year-old to develop an award-winning robot? Aryan explains in detail.

While most of his peers would find ways to sneak out of study time to play, Aryan spent his time on the internet, exploring the latest technological advancements around the world.

Born and raised in Kota, Aryan comes from a farming family. "I was born surrounded by farmers, gaining a real-time experience of their lives. They face numerous challenges and engage in manual labour to put food on the table," he shares.

By closely observing his family struggles, such as the lack of innovation on the field, crop failures due to diseases, and the impacts of climate change, Aryans young mind began searching for solutions.

"Even though there are machines and innovations to prevent diseases, monitor crops, and eliminate pests, they are unaffordable for most farmers. Many try to take loans and end up deeper in debt, stuck in the cycle of poverty," he explains.

"I wanted to create something affordable, compact, and capable of solving more than one problem for the farmer," he says.

While it could have been a passing thought for Aryan, the COVID-19 pandemic provided him with much more time to think.

"I was in 10th standard when I came up with this idea. Thanks to the lockdown, I had plenty of time to read up on things and design my model. I was very young, so I knew there could be a solution, but I was not aware of the technology available in the world," he says.

"My interest continued to grow, leading me to pursue a B.Tech degree. This choice significantly enhanced my understanding of how machines and artificial intelligence operate," he explains.

Furthermore, the academic environment gave him a platform to collaborate and seek assistance. "The college offers well-equipped labs and professors with extensive knowledge."

After nearly three years of research, Aryan successfully developed the first prototype of “Agrobot” in 2023.

"During this time, Aryan also founded a company called Mera Saathi Pvt Ltd."

Aryan Singh AgRobot: Revolutionizing Farming with AI-Powered Crop Analysis, Seed Sowing, and Irrigation

Aryan had a clear idea of what he wanted to achieve, which was financial backing for his project. He reached out to Istart, a key program initiated by the government of Rajasthan aimed at helping startups in the state. This program helped him by providing workspace, laboratory facilities, and overall support.

He also contacted the Atal Innovation Mission, another government initiative that offers assistance for innovation and entrepreneurship. On top of this, Aryan received considerable help from his college, including access to research facilities and support from his professors.

Aryan explains the special features of his robot designed for farming. He mentions that one key feature is its ability to assess the health of crops. The robot is equipped with cameras that allow it to analyze the crops as it moves through the field, providing real-time information about their condition.

Additionally, Aryan notes that there is a seed dropper on top of the robot. This dropper can spread seeds across the field, which helps farmers by reducing the amount of manual labor they need to do.

He also describes other useful components of the robot, such as soil moisture sensors. These sensors enable farmers to check soil conditions and identify any pests present in it. Furthermore, he explains that the dropper can be used not only for planting seeds but also for watering (irrigation) and applying pesticides if necessary.

"By integrating IoT, weve made the robot remotely controllable. For example, if your crops are in Kota and youre in Jaipur, you can simply log into the app Ive developed and operate it," he says.

Additionally, the robot is fully powered by solar energy. "There is a piezoelectric panel installed in it that generates electricity through pressure. For example, the pressure created on the tires and the panel produces electricity that can be stored in the batteries for use when the sun is not shining," he explains.

"This creates a continuous power cycle. Once the solar energy is exhausted, you can switch to the piezoelectric panel. The robot will not need any external power source to operate," he adds.

The robot has attracted significant attention, and Aryan has already established a company to commercialize it.

"My aim is to reach every hardworking kisan of the country. I am planning to commercialize the robot to make it more accessible to farmers," Aryan shares.

Recalling an incident at the Krishi Mela in Kota, he says, "There were a lot of innovators around me, and I was very nervous. But the robot attracted so much attention that hundreds of people, mostly farmers, visited my stall and showed interest in my work. Narendra Singh Tomar, an MLA, visited my stall and congratulated me on my innovation."

"It feels surreal, but I am glad that I could bring such an innovation for the farmers," he adds.

Edited by Gayathri