German farmers’ intention to use autonomous field robots: a PLS-analysis

Abstract

Autonomous field robots are a promising technology for solving several problems in agriculture, as they are electrical driven, can control weeds single-plant based mechanically or with microdoses of pesticides and exert less ground pressure on the field. Whether such robots will be applied on a large scale in German agriculture depends on various parameters. Therefore, the factors influencing the behavioural intention of farmers with respect to their future adoption of autonomous field robots were investigated. The analysis applies a structural equation model based on an extended version of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. The dataset, collected in 2019, consists of 500 German farmers. The results reveal significantly positive effects of farmers’ expected performance, social influence and trust as well as significantly negative effects of farmers’ effort expectancy and anxiety on the behavioural intention to use autonomous field robots. Additionally, moderating effects of age on the relationship of individual constructs to the behavioural intent to use robots could be confirmed. The results provide important information for various stakeholders. Robot suppliers should better inform farmers about the performance of their products, for instance by involving farmers in the development process of the robots. The ecological benefits attributed to field robots could meet public expectations and should be better communicated to address farmers’ social influence on the behavioural intention to use the robots. Policymakers could try to create better framework conditions, for example by establishing a stable legal situation for autonomous systems or promote its use.

Farmers’ acceptance of robotics and unmanned aerial vehicles: A systematic review

“…Furthermore, von Veltheim and Heise (2021) concluded that the surveyed German farmers tended to have a neutral to positive view on adopting field crop robots, aligned with von Veltheim et al. (2021), who also found that the surveyed German farmers were positive about introducing autonomous field robots on their farms.…”

“…Additionally, von Veltheim et al. (2021) showed a moderating effect of age on the effect of variables on the intention to adopt. Furthermore, male farmers were more likely to have a higher intention to adopt or adoption rate of robotics and UAVs than female farmers.…”

“…(2003), was used by von Veltheim and Heise (2021), von Veltheim et al. (2021), and Zheng et al. (2019).…”

Social and ethical considerations for agricultural robotics

“…These approaches lack the principles of substantive inclusion identified above (Rose and Bhattacharya, 2023). Examples of participation and inclusion in the technical dimensions of agricultural robotic development have thus far employed a range of tools, including the use of augmented reality (Huuskonen & Oksanen, 2019), on-farm trials (Adamides et al, 2017) and simulation events (see Riek, 2012 for methods), farmer surveys (Rose and Bhattacharya, 2023;Tamirat et al, 2023;von Veltheim and Heise, 2021;von Veltheim et al, 2022), public surveys (Pfeiffer et al, 2021;Spykman et al, 2022) and farmer interviews (Redhead et al, 2015). A recent study in four European countries by Tamirat et al (2023) went further than including only farmers, and instead interviewed robotic companies, academics, project managers, public authorities, and environmental conservation societies.…”

How much can farmers pay for weeding robots? A Monte Carlo simulation study

“…They also predicted that farms with larger fields would adopt field crop robots sooner than farms with small fields, irrespective of total acreage, due to logistic costs. Rübcke von Veltheim et al ( 2022 ) further investigated the behavioural intention of German farmers with respect to their future adoption of autonomous field robots. It is found that farmers’ expected performance and trust in technology had a significant positive impact on their intention to adopt autonomous field robots.…”