As if by magic, the fleet of tireless helpers makes its rounds on the field – in sunshine, in rain and even on holidays. For many farms around the world, the Contadino has become indispensable to operations. Developed by Continental in 2019 and presented to the global public at the Agritechnica trade fair in Hanover, Germany, the small agricultural robot makes day-to-day work easier for farmers. After all, tilling the fields is a time-consuming job – for which there are fewer and fewer skilled workers in Germany and elsewhere.

The Contadino offers a solution to the ongoing structural transformation and the associated shortage of skilled workers, requiring no direct intervention by the user and giving farmers more flexibility when working the field. Its cloud connection to the fleet also enables mobile monitoring and provides a constant overview, while data access and analysis can be used to optimize processes.

Swarm technology taking over farmwork

The agricultural robots can work independently or as part of a fleet, the size of which can be configured as required. Transport to the field is carried out by trailer, which also serves as a loading and refilling station for seed or fertilizer.

The swarm technology guarantees an efficient, smooth, downtime-free workflow, with efficient electric motors and automatic recharging enabling round-the-clock operation. Thanks to the targeted use of pesticides, fertilizers and seeds, the Contadino also goes hand-in-hand with the resource-friendly agriculture of the future.

The Contadino may not think like an experienced farmer, but it is very attentive thanks to smart technology – making it an ideal industry example of the benefits of artificial intelligence.

This is made possible by Continental’s many years of experience in autonomous driving and sensor technology. The robot is equipped with lidar, radar, real-time GPS data transmission (“RTK”), camera and ultrasound. The little field worker therefore “knows” where it is at all times and can be positioned to within three centimeters by its users via remote control.

Curry via Corriere

Meanwhile, in the densely populated downtown area of Singapore, the pace of work is high, and by lunchtime the many domestic and foreign professionals there have worked up a large appetite. But heading outside to a local restaurant, especially in a business suit at sultry, sauna-like temperatures, can be risky. Continental has successfully tested a smart helper for this famous “last mile”: the Corriere robot vehicle. The delivery robot, which weighs just under 40 kilograms and is around 30 centimeters high, is ideal for smaller operations such as transporting groceries, medicines or smaller packages to the end customer. Or, as in Singapore, delicious curries or rice dishes from restaurants to the local Continental site.

A mobility solution like the Corriere can significantly relieve inner-city traffic if people no longer have to get into their cars to buy a liter of milk, deliver a packed lunch or pick up an order at the pharmacy. Equipped with modern technology, the Corriere, which is fed with data in advance, navigates its way through the inner-city hustle and bustle and delivers its goods safely and on time.

Automated driving without AI? Unthinkable!

The key factor behind AI growth in the automotive sector is automated and autonomous driving, which needs the technology to reliably detect objects in the vicinity of a car or truck in real time combination with vehicle sensors. AI-based driver assistance systems can maneuver vehicles safely even in the densest urban traffic and help avoid accidents. When connected to other vehicles and infrastructure, AI applications reduce congestion and are key solutions for the mobility of the coming years.

Continental is steadily increasing the number of its AI specialists in order to meet the rapidly growing demand for AI technologies. Around 1,200 AI experts currently work at Continental, and the figure is steadily rising. The knowledge, creativity, experience and skills of the company’s specialists form the building blocks with which new technologies are created and further developed. AI experts from various Continental group sectors are working together in Berlin, Frankfurt and Regensburg on solutions for the mobility of tomorrow.

Continental has been strategically expanding its expertise in artificial intelligence since 2016 and recently expanded its global AI team with an AI lab in Berlin. Here, AI experts from different group sectors work together on solutions for the mobility of tomorrow. “The lab is a decisive strategic measure to consolidate and align the company’s diverse AI expertise,” says Dr. Corina Apachiţe, program head for artificial intelligence and data at Continental Automotive in an interview. Her enthusiasm for AI is clear, as her video portrait impressively shows.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a key technology in the automotive sector. The market for artificial intelligence in the automotive industry is estimated at $2.3 billion and, according to research institute Mordor Intelligence, is expected to reach $16.2 billion by 2026. Continental recognized artificial intelligence early on as a driving force for its future business – and is responsibly harnessing the power of the technology in its products and processes.

Please also read the dossier on the topic of  "Artificial Intelligence and the Mobility of Tomorrow"