AgXRP Project Overview

What is AgXRP?

The Agricultural Experiential Robotics Platform (AgXRP) is an open-source, low-cost robotics system developed to teach students about precision agriculture, automation, and sustainable engineering practices. AgXRP brings together mechanical design, sensor integration, data-driven irrigation, and remote control capabilities in a single, CNC-style robotic platform that operates over a raised garden bed. It serves as an experiential learning tool that connects students to the practical applications of robotics in modern agriculture.

Educational Mission

AgXRP is designed to bridge the gap between STEM and agriculture education. It empowers students from diverse backgrounds—rural, urban, and suburban—to engage with high-tech agricultural practices, making STEM more relevant for rural learners and agriculture more accessible for urban students. The curriculum aligned with AgXRP emphasizes hands-on learning, scientific experimentation, data collection and analysis, and sustainable farming.

Key Features

• Modular Design: Uses 3D-printed and PVC components to construct a scalable gantry system adaptable to any raised bed size up to 8x4 feet.
• Precision Irrigation: A peristaltic pump and soil moisture sensor on the tool head allow the robot to water plants exactly when and where needed.
• User Interface: Accessible via agxrp.com, the Bluetooth-enabled UI allows users to define plant locations, set moisture thresholds, and schedule irrigation missions.
• Affordability: AgXRP is intentionally designed to be accessible for schools and organizations with limited budgets, costing less than most textbooks while delivering advanced robotics capabilities.

Learning Opportunities

AgXRP supports interdisciplinary teaching in:

• Horticulture and Soil Science
• Precision Agriculture and Irrigation
• Mechatronics and Robotics
• Programming and Automation
• Data Logging and Analysis

Curriculum Integration

The AgXRP curriculum is divided into modules that cover engineering, plant science, soil science, crop production, and cybersecurity. Students learn to build, program, and operate the robot while conducting agricultural experiments. Activities include measuring soil texture and moisture retention, comparing plant growth stages, analyzing irrigation strategies, and simulating agricultural cyberattacks.

Experiential Cloud Farms

The future vision for AgXRP includes the deployment of cloud-connected garden beds that allow students to remotely manage agricultural systems across the globe. These “Experiential Cloud Farms” promote international collaboration, real-time experimentation, and mentorship between students and agricultural professionals.

Impact and Accessibility

At a cost of less than $200 per kit, AgXRP dramatically lowers the barrier to integrating robotics into agriculture education. It is actively being piloted in high schools, 4-H programs, and global partnerships such as Equatoria Farms in South Sudan. The platform also serves as a capstone design case study in Cornell University’s Systems Engineering curriculum.

AgXRP is more than a robot—it’s a catalyst for reimagining agricultural education, making automation and sustainability core components of how the next generation learns to grow our food.