Farmers face a herculean task of feeding a global population, which the United Nations projects will reach 8.6 billion by 2030. To do so, food producers are increasingly turning to precision agriculture.
Leveraging precision ag robotics and technologies such as GPS, drones, sensors, AI, and satellite imagery can help both family farms and large-scale commercial operations reduce waste, boost crop yields, and make smart, data-driven decisions about each acre.
Producers often deploy these tools in harsh, unpredictable field conditions, including mud, dust, vibration, extreme temperatures, inclement weather, and remote locations with intermittent or no power. Traditional tech companies simply don’t build durable laptops and mobile devices for farming environments.
That’s where Panasonic TOUGHBOOK® devices come in. Designed and tested to rigorous standards, these rugged laptops and two-in-one tablets can endure drops, shocks, spills, and wide temperature swings, making them ideal companions for field-based precision agriculture. Not only can they survive in a farm environment, but these devices enable farmers to operate cutting-edge precision agriculture robotics right where they need them.
What is Precision Agriculture?
Precision agriculture is a farming approach that uses advanced technologies—such as GPS guidance, sensors, drones, satellite imagery, and data analytics—to monitor and manage variability within fields.
For instance, a farm with 100 acres of soybeans may use a drone, soil sensors, and satellite imagery to scout for plant disease in the fields. But rather than applying the same amount of pesticide, water, or fertilizer on the entire crop, precision ag technologies give that farmer the data to target specific areas. This, in turn, helps producers of any size to optimize inputs, reduce waste, increase yields, and minimize environmental impact.
Adding TOUGHBOOK rugged computers to operations ensures those precision agriculture robotics can operate reliably, so producers have up-to-the-second access to everything from Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping to Internet of Things (IoT) platforms.
TOUGHBOOK on the Farm, in the Field
Bumps and drops are common on the farm or in the truck cab, and standards such as MIL‑STD‑810H make the TOUGHBOOK devices drop- and vibration-resistant. Panasonic TOUGHBOOK's rugged design can handle the vibrations of tractors and combines, dust, and the heat of the day. Implementing rugged devices on the farm minimizes field downtime and offers always-connected performance.
For instance, hot-swappable batteries with around 15 hours of runtime ensure farmers stay up and running without stopping to charge. Integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, along with embedded wireless antennas, mean strong Wi-Fi and LTE connectivity that enables continuous communication among field workers, vendors, and cooperative extension agents. And, a producer can add on vehicle docks to download data from the field and use barcode scanners for livestock tags.
Integrating Rugged Computers into Precision Agriculture Activities
Here are a few ways operators can integrate TOUGHBOOK rugged laptops and tablets into precision agriculture:
Operating precision agriculture robotics
Modern precision ag depends on drone-collected imagery for tasks like mapping crop health, detecting irrigation issues, and managing pests. Operators often fly drones across muddy or uneven terrain, relying on live telemetry and real-time control interfaces. Rugged tablets like the TOUGHBOOK 33 enable safe, reliable control in these conditions, with touchscreen accuracy and robust connectivity, even under canopy cover.
GPS field mapping and variable-rate application
High-resolution soil or plant variability maps guide the application of seed, fertilizer, and spray with GPS-enabled equipment. A TOUGHBOOK 40 laptop docked in a truck parked alongside the field enables any producer to run mapping software that operates live with satellite and base station correction signals. The fully ruggedized laptop also features an anti-glare screen and vibration-hardened build to ensure usability anytime, in any condition. TOUGHBOOK tablets, like the 10-inch rugged G2, also feature outdoor-viewable displays and glove-touch functionality.
Real-time sensor analytics
Farms across the globe generate a continuous stream of data—from environmental sensors monitoring soil moisture, pH, and temperature to weather stations tracking real-time conditions. Even small-scale operations rely on this data to optimize decisions around irrigation, spraying, planting, or harvesting. With a TOUGHBOOK, field techs working in rainy, dusty, or hot conditions can easily access sensor dashboards, log data, adjust irrigation controllers or other inputs remotely, and flag anomalies between fields. Paired with weather forecasting apps and services, these insights help producers respond faster and farm smarter.
Compliance, reporting, and traceability
Regulatory compliance, traceability, and recordkeeping demand accurate, on-site data entry, often using scanners or RFID. TOUGHBOOK's modular expansion packs (xPAKs), such as barcode readers and serial ports, let farmers quickly tag livestock lots, upload harvest logs, and sync reports, all without the risk of data loss from a traditional device. Plus, producers can file reports and keep digital logs for EPA, USDA, or other agencies directly from the field.
Inventory, fleet, and livestock management
Syncing software platforms across laptops and tablets allows farmers to manage daily operations in real time, whether it's keeping tabs on livestock, monitoring equipment and machinery, or taking inventory of seed. Here are a few roles TOUGHBOOK mobile devices can play in everyday management:
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TOUGHBOOK devices give producers the ability to keep track of seeds, chemicals, feed, and parts in real time when syncing inventory management software across devices.
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They can run farm management and accounting and payroll software from anywhere on their acreage.
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Integrating telematics enables monitoring and management of tractors, sprayers, and combines.
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Diagnostics software can interface directly with equipment via Bluetooth or USB to help an operator perform routine maintenance checks and quickly address any problems so that the equipment remains up and running during planting or harvesting.
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Laptops with wireless connections enable recording of breeding data, health checks, and vaccinations using RFID or barcode scanners attached via expandable ports.
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Livestock operators can access veterinarian consults remotely using video conferencing tools.
Data collection and field notes
All the precision ag technology in the world still doesn’t replace a boots-on-the-ground approach, however. Taking a TOUGHBOOK device into the field enables a producer to manually scout crops, recording notes about pests, diseases, and crop performance on each acre of land. The built-in camera on a tablet can help document plant health or note equipment damage for recordkeeping or remote consultation.
Precision Agriculture Robotics: The Future of Farming Technology
As farming technology continues to embrace interconnected GPS systems, sensors, IoT platforms, and even autonomous vehicles, TOUGHBOOK rugged devices are critical to leveraging new time-saving technology for agricultural operations.
With proven productivity gains in farming and other industries with similarly rugged environments, TOUGHBOOK can dramatically reduce field downtime and replacement cycles. This, coupled with professional deployment services, can get any producer up and running quickly, helping farm operations achieve greater precision, scale, and sustainability. Learn more about how Panasonic Connect solutions help increase productivity and save costs.
