Sydney University and Delaval have created the first Robotic Rotary Dairy which requires very little human input. Vardhman uses clever graphics to show you how it works

1. Vardhman Jain
Hurlstone Agricultural High School

2. Questions
Q. What do you get when you
put ice and cream
together?
A. Ice Cream.
Q. What do you get when you
put a straw and a berry
together?
A. A Strawberry.

3. So…
Q. What do you get when you put a robot and a dairy farm together?

4. A Robotic Rotary!

5. What is the Robotic Rotary?
• The robotic rotary, as the name suggests, is a new technology that allows dairy
farmers to milk their cows with only very limited human input. This is made
possible through laser tracking which locates the udder and a robotic arm which
reaches out towards the udder with the milking cups and performs the suction
action (with vacuum and pulsation).
• This system was designed by DeLaval and FutureDairy. It was released in Germany
and Australia in November 2010. The DeLaval AMR™ (Automatic Milking Rotary)
can milk 50‐90 cows per hour.
Moo

6. Milking Methods
• The Automatic Milking Rotary (AMR) supports two methods for milk
production. The first is voluntary milking while the other is batch milking.
• Voluntary milking involves the dairy cows coming on their own to be milked
automatically. This requires no direct human input, however, good farm
management is required to ensure that the cows volunteer for milking
regularly to ensure milk yield is not reduced.
• Batch milking involves the dairy farmer bringing in small groups of cows to
be milked throughout the day. This requires the initial human input, but
during the milking, the farmer can attend to other priorities.
• Bringing all the cows to the AMR™ is not appropriate as the AMR™ rate of
milking is 50‐90 cows per hour. This would involve too many cows having to
wait in the dairy for a long time considering that the herd is above 300
cows.

7. Benefits
• No physical labour ‐ There is no input from the farmer to milk the cows as
the robotic arms perform all the milking actions.
• Milking consistency ‐ The milk is consistent as it is not influenced by
different people. Different people place the suction cups for a different
length of time which influences the quantity and quality of the milk.
• Increased milking frequency ‐ A three‐times‐per‐day milking cycle reduces
the stress on the udder and this increases the milk yield.
• Herd Management ‐ Computers can monitor individual cows and allow
more accurate data collection, which can be used to see the condition of
the herd. Individual cow histories can be recorded to identify any changes,
which gives an early sign of an illness.

8. Drawbacks
• Despite this system’s efficient control, there are still some inputs required
from the dairy farmer. These include‐
activating the washing system.
attending to the problems.
observing individual cow performance.
• The major problem with this system is the initial installation cost – this
should be offset by labour savings to be economically viable.
• With any piece of new technology, there is an increase in complexity with
the new methods which increases the chance of a system failure.
• The reduced contact between the farmer and the herd means that the
farmer is unaware of any physical injuries.
• AMR™ will also require high maintenance, increasing maintenance costs

9. The AMR in use
• The next slide is an animation that illustrates the movement of the cows in
the DeLaval AMR™ system. The cows enter through the opening door
where they are positioned to be milked at a 30˚ angle. After this, the cows
travel around the structure in a circle where they are milked. Please note
that in the AMR™, the cows are stationary and it is the platform that
rotates.
• The following slide is a video clip that was made by DeLaval to represent the
system. The udder is located through the use of laser technology and
camera in real time. Please click on the box.

10. Robotic Arm
Exit
Entry

11. The AMR in Use
Please click the box to be directed to the video.

12. Other Automatic Milking Systems
• The AMR™ is the first automatic milking rotary system, but not the first
automatic milking system (AMS). AMS are also known as single (or multi)
boxes. These are shaped like a booth, as shown in the picture below.
• Other AMS include ‐
• DeLaval VMS (Sweden)
• Galaxy Robot AMS (Denmark)
• Lely Astronaut AMS (Netherlands)
• Merlin AMS (UK)
• Titan AMS (Germany)
DeLaval VMS 2010 Model

13. 2010 Eurotier Gold Medal
• The Eurotier Gold Medal is a
esteemed European award given to
new agricultural innovations and
ideas.
• This award was presented to the
DeLaval AMR™ for‐
new concept
importance of product for practice
animal welfare
impact on farm and labour
management

14. The Thinking Caps
• Every innovation can only be possible when someone wears the “Thinking
Cap”. “Thinking Caps” are struck with ideas that were once thought to be
impossible.
• The minds that made the AMR™ possible belong to
• Professor Bill Fulkerson ‐ Designed the original sketches.
• Dr. Tom Davison ‐ Turned the sketches into reality.
• Dr. Kendra Kerrisk ‐ Leading researcher

15. The robotic rotary will be a
way so that farmers can spend
more time with family.
Professor Bill Fulkerson

16. The robotic rotary is a great
idea. This will reduce input
and labour costs.
Dr. Tom Davison

17. The robotic rotary will
provide efficiency in dairy
farming.
Doctor Kendra Kerrisk

18. The “Tester”
• There were many tests that had to be run to make sure that the AMR™
would be perfect.
• The head for the department of testing is Daisy the Cow.
The AMR™ allows me
to have a long chat
with all my friends.

19. Gallery
This side view illustrates a cow just
about to be milked. The robotic
arm extends outwards towards the
cow for milking.

20. Further References
• For more information regarding the research (Australian based) on the AMR
and the AMS, please visit ‐
www.futuredairy.com.au
• For more information regarding the DeLaval Automatic Milking Rotary ‐
http://www.delaval.com/en/About‐DeLaval/DeLaval‐Newsroom/?nid=6705
• A printable fact sheet
http://www.futuredairy.com.au/media/robotic_rotary11Nov2010/FD‐
Robotic%20Rotary%20Fact%20Sheet%20Web.pdf
• The original link to the video is ‐
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=‐‐e_AOeOC4s

21. Thank you for watching
this slideshow

23. Sadly, this feature of the
slideshow is not functional in
PDF Mode

24. However, it is not finished.
Prepare yourself for (insert drum roll please)‐
The Maze Game 2:
Daisy’s Trip Back Home
New Challenges. New Milk.
• Stick to the white path and move from level to level. Don’t touch any other
colour.
• Move to the green section (fresh juicy pasture)
• Rest assured that there is a prize at the end.
• I recommend using a proper mouse as apposed to a laptop touchpad.
This Feature Does Not Work In PDF Format

25. Finish Pit Stop Start

26. Good Job ‐ 1 Down, 2 To Go
Press the button to advance to the next level.

27. Pit Stop
Finish Pit Stop Start

28. Great Job ‐ 2 Down, 1 To Go
Press the button to advance to the next level.

29. Pit Stop
Finish Pit Stop Start

30. Congratulations
Press the Button to obtain your prize.

31. Confirm the acceptance, so the prize can be sent out.
Yes No

32. Confirm the acceptance, so the prize can be sent out.
Yes No

33. It’s OK if you don’t want it. I won’t feel bad.
Press the button to restart the presentation.
Press the ESC key to end this slideshow.

34. You left the path
Press the button to try again.