![BSE Professors Yufeng Ge (left) and Santosh Pitla inspect the Flexible Robot, or Flex-Ro, which is outfitted with sensors that collect data and help the vehicle avoid obstacles. A planter for Mars would be much smaller so it can be transported easier and also because the “fields” would probably be in enclosed spaces. Photo illustration for Space 2, the Nebraska Grand Challenge led by professors in Biological Systems Engineering to grow crops on Mars. October 20, 2023. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.](styles/square_thumbnail/public/photos/231020_Space2_Corn_151.jpg)
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![An “astronaut” holds a small corn plant with the Flex-Ro autonomous planter behind her. A planter for Mars would be much smaller so it can be transported easier and also because the “fields” would probably be in enclosed spaces. Photo illustration for Space 2, the Nebraska Grand Challenge led by professors in Biological Systems Engineering to grow crops on Mars. October 20, 2023. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.](styles/square_thumbnail/public/photos/231020_Space2_Corn_092v5.jpg)
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![Flex-Ro, which first entered fields in 2019 to measure crop traits, can be controlled remotely and operated autonomously. It has been designed to be modular and reconfigurable, with different modes of steering ability available on the fly. Flex-Ro is a robotic planter based on Santosh Pitla’s tractor platform works its way through a field at the Rogers Memorial Farm east of Lincoln. April 27, 2023. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.](styles/square_thumbnail/public/photos/230427_Flex-Ro_Tractor_1024.jpg)
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![Graduate student Ian Tempelmeyer walks behind the robotic planter as it starts a row. The self driving robotic planter based on Santosh Pitla’s tractor platform works its way through a field at the Rogers Memorial Farm east of Lincoln. April 27, 2023. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.](styles/square_thumbnail/public/photos/230427_Flex-Ro_Tractor_1010.jpg)
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![Graduate student Ian Tempelmeyer checks the programming on the planter as it turns for another row. The self-driving robotic planter based on Santosh Pitla’s tractor platform works its way through a field at the Rogers Memorial Farm east of Lincoln. April 27, 2023. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.](styles/square_thumbnail/public/photos/230427_Flex-Ro_Tractor_0995.jpg)
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![Graduate student Ian Tempelmeyer, red shirt, and graduate research assistant Taylor Cross walk behind the Flex-Ro autonomous planting robot as it starts a row along with others from the lab. The self-driving robotic planter based on Santosh Pitla’s tractor platform works its way through a field at the Rogers Memorial Farm east of Lincoln. April 27, 2023. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.](styles/square_thumbnail/public/photos/230427_Flex-Ro_Tractor_0986.jpg)
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![Flex-Ro, which first entered fields in 2019 to measure crop traits, can be controlled remotely and operated autonomously. It has been designed to be modular and reconfigurable, with different modes of steering ability available on the fly. Flex-Ro is a robotic planter based on Santosh Pitla’s tractor platform works its way through a field at the Rogers Memorial Farm east of Lincoln. April 27, 2023. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.](styles/square_thumbnail/public/photos/230427_Flex-Ro_Tractor_0955.jpg)
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![Flex-Ro, which first entered fields in 2019 to measure crop traits, can be controlled remotely and operated autonomously. It has been designed to be modular and reconfigurable, with different modes of steering ability available on the fly. Flex-Ro is a robotic planter based on Santosh Pitla’s tractor platform works its way through a field at the Rogers Memorial Farm east of Lincoln. April 27, 2023. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.](styles/square_thumbnail/public/photos/230427_Flex-Ro_Tractor_0900.jpg)
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![Flex-Ro, which first entered fields in 2019 to measure crop traits, can be controlled remotely and operated autonomously. It has been designed to be modular and reconfigurable, with different modes of steering ability available on the fly. Flex-Ro is a robotic planter based on Santosh Pitla’s tractor platform works its way through a field at the Rogers Memorial Farm east of Lincoln. April 27, 2023. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.](styles/square_thumbnail/public/photos/230427_Flex-Ro_Tractor_0724.jpg)
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![Graduate student Ian Tempelmeyer, red shirt, and graduate research assistant Taylor Cross walk behind the Flex-Ro autonomous planting robot as it starts a row. The self-driving robotic planter based on Santosh Pitla’s tractor platform works its way through a field at the Rogers Memorial Farm east of Lincoln. April 27, 2023. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.](styles/square_thumbnail/public/photos/230427_Flex-Ro_Tractor_0652.jpg)
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![Bryce Doeschot, Market Journal and IANR Media, films the planting. The self-driving robotic planter based on Santosh Pitla’s tractor platform works its way through a field at the Rogers Memorial Farm east of Lincoln. April 27, 2023. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.](styles/square_thumbnail/public/photos/230427_Flex-Ro_Tractor_0499.jpg)
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![Graduate research assistant Taylor Cross connects the seed box to the planter. The self-driving robotic planter based on Santosh Pitla’s tractor platform works its way through a field at the Rogers Memorial Farm east of Lincoln. April 27, 2023. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.](styles/square_thumbnail/public/photos/230427_Flex-Ro_Tractor_0473.jpg)
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![Graduate student Ian Tempelmeyer, right, and graduate research assistant Taylor Cross walk behind the Flex-Ro autonomous planting robot as it starts a row. The self-driving robotic planter based on Santosh Pitla’s tractor platform works its way through a field at the Rogers Memorial Farm east of Lincoln. April 27, 2023. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.](styles/square_thumbnail/public/photos/230427_Flex-Ro_Tractor_0459.jpg)
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![Graduate research assistant Taylor Cross (left) and graduate student Ian Tempelmeyer walk behind the Flex-Ro autonomous planting robot as it starts a row at Rogers Memorial Farm, east of Lincoln. Santosh Pitla, associate professor of advanced machinery systems at Nebraska, has managed the project since the robot’s inception in 2015. April 27, 2023. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.](styles/square_thumbnail/public/photos/230427_Flex-Ro_Tractor_0355.jpg)
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![Flex-Ro, which first entered fields in 2019 to measure crop traits, can be controlled remotely and operated autonomously. It has been designed to be modular and reconfigurable, with different modes of steering ability available on the fly. Flex-Ro is a robotic planter based on Santosh Pitla’s tractor platform works its way through a field at the Rogers Memorial Farm east of Lincoln. April 27, 2023. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.](styles/square_thumbnail/public/photos/230427_Flex-Ro_Tractor_0309.jpg)
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![Graduate student Ian Tempelmeyer, left, and graduate research assistant Taylor Cross dig through the dirt to check for seed planting depth and spacing. The self-driving robotic planter based on Santosh Pitla’s tractor platform works its way through a field at the Rogers Memorial Farm east of Lincoln. April 27, 2023. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.](styles/square_thumbnail/public/photos/230427_Flex-Ro_Tractor_0283.jpg)
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![Graduate student Ian Tempelmeyer, left, and graduate research assistant Taylor Cross dig through the dirt to check for seed planting depth and spacing. The self-driving robotic planter based on Santosh Pitla’s tractor platform works its way through a field at the Rogers Memorial Farm east of Lincoln. April 27, 2023. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.](styles/square_thumbnail/public/photos/230427_Flex-Ro_Tractor_0251.jpg)
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![Graduate student Ian Tempelmeyer, left, and graduate research assistant Taylor Cross dig through the dirt to check for seed planting depth and spacing. The self-driving robotic planter based on Santosh Pitla’s tractor platform works its way through a field at the Rogers Memorial Farm east of Lincoln. April 27, 2023. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.](styles/square_thumbnail/public/photos/230427_Flex-Ro_Tractor_0215.jpg)
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![Graduate student Ian Tempelmeyer, left, and graduate research assistant Taylor Cross dig through the dirt to check for seed planting depth and spacing. The self-driving robotic planter based on Santosh Pitla’s tractor platform works its way through a field at the Rogers Memorial Farm east of Lincoln. April 27, 2023. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.](styles/square_thumbnail/public/photos/230427_Flex-Ro_Tractor_0163.jpg)
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![Graduate student Ian Tempelmeyer, left, and graduate research assistant Taylor Cross dig through the dirt to check for seed planting depth and spacing. The self-driving robotic planter based on Santosh Pitla’s tractor platform works its way through a field at the Rogers Memorial Farm east of Lincoln. April 27, 2023. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.](styles/square_thumbnail/public/photos/230427_Flex-Ro_Tractor_0143.jpg)
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![Flex-Ro, which first entered fields in 2019 to measure crop traits, can be controlled remotely and operated autonomously. It has been designed to be modular and reconfigurable, with different modes of steering ability available on the fly. Flex-Ro is a robotic planter based on Santosh Pitla’s tractor platform works its way through a field at the Rogers Memorial Farm east of Lincoln. April 27, 2023. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.](styles/square_thumbnail/public/photos/230427_Flex-Ro_Tractor_0096.jpg)
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![Graduate student Ian Tempelmeyer, red shirt, and graduate research assistant Taylor Cross walk behind the Flex-Ro autonomous planting robot as it starts a row. The self-driving robotic planter based on Santosh Pitla’s tractor platform works its way through a field at the Rogers Memorial Farm east of Lincoln. April 27, 2023. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.](styles/square_thumbnail/public/photos/230427_Flex-Ro_Tractor_0087.jpg)
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![Graduate student Ian Tempelmeyer, red shirt, and graduate research assistant Taylor Cross walk behind the Flex-Ro autonomous planting robot as it starts a row. The self-driving robotic planter based on Santosh Pitla’s tractor platform works its way through a field at the Rogers Memorial Farm east of Lincoln. April 27, 2023. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.](styles/square_thumbnail/public/photos/230427_Flex-Ro_Tractor_0072.jpg)
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