Akamai's serverless tech keeps farm robots in check with real-time alerts
A new monitoring system for agricultural robots has been developed using Akamai Functions, a serverless computing platform. The technology tracks autonomous machines like those made by Burro, which operate in vineyards and farms. By integrating with Burro Cloud API, the system ensures operators receive alerts when robots move outside designated areas.
Burro's machines transport loads and navigate between work zones in agricultural settings. However, operators cannot constantly monitor each machine's location or watch live video feeds from multiple units. To address this, Agri Automation Australia and Akamai created a solution that uses geofencing to define software-controlled boundaries.
Akamai Functions runs the monitoring logic on a distributed edge platform. This setup reduces delays and maintains high availability. The system checks each robot's latest position against the geofencing rules every time it executes. If a machine strays beyond the allowed area, the platform sends an immediate notification to operators. The serverless environment operates on a pay-per-use model, making it cost-effective for event-driven tasks. There are no charges for idle resources, and the functions can be replicated across multiple locations. They also integrate smoothly with other services on the platform, acting as an intermediary layer between robots, their cloud interfaces, and human oversight.
The system currently focuses on agriculture, with no announced plans for expansion into other industries. By combining Akamai Functions with Burro's geofencing capabilities, operators now receive reliable alerts when machines deviate from set boundaries. This reduces the need for constant manual monitoring while improving efficiency in farm operations.
