BIOTECH EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY

Academic Year 2026/2027 - Teacher: DOMENICO LONGO

Expected Learning Outcomes

This course aims to provide the academic and professional competencies required for the field application of Variable Rate Agriculture and Precision Farming in their various forms. The technologies that enable their practical implementation will therefore be analysed. The concepts of automatic control will be introduced, and the devices that make this possible (sensors, controllers and actuators) will be explained. An overview of small-scale energy production from biomass and other renewable sources will also be provided.

With reference to the Dublin Descriptors, by the end of the course students should have acquired:

Knowledge and understanding abilities

Knowledge of the principles underpinning ‘Precision Farming’, of field mapping systems and sensors, and of the actuators and control systems required in machinery suitable for variable-rate application. An understanding of the differences and potential of renewable energy production plants, with particular reference to biomass.

Applying knowledge and understanding abilities

Ability to recognise the functions of components, machinery and plant in order to understand their potential and possible applications.

Ability of making judgements

Ability to compare different technical and plant-related solutions and select the one best suited to specific requirements.

Communication skills

The ability to use technical terms correctly in order to engage in dialogue and discuss matters with specialists. The ability to simplify and explain, in a way that is understandable even to non-specialists, the functions and specific characteristics of sensors, actuators, controllers, machines and systems.

Learning skills

Ability to learn the topics covered using logical-deductive methods rather than mnemonic techniques.

Course Structure

Lectures with the aid of slides and exercises consisting of analyses of practical applications, seminars and visits to local farms.

If the teaching will be carried out in mixed or on line mode, the necessary changes may be introduced with respect to the previous statements in order to comply with the program planned and reported in the syllabus.

Required Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required. All necessary background information will be provided to students during the course.

Attendance of Lessons

Attending the classes is not mandatory, but strongly recommended due to the broad, cross-disciplinary nature of the topics covered and because it facilities the learning process and contributes to the achievement of the learning objectives.

Detailed Course Content

Definition of the terms "Precision Farming" and "Variable Rate Agriculture". Tools for field condition data collection and decision-making processes. Introduction to automatic control systems. Sensors, controllers, and actuators. Automation of agricultural machinery and specific field operations. Fundamentals of cartography. Introduction to GNSS satellite positioning systems: GPS, DGPS, RTK-DGPS, and accuracy enhancement systems based on SBAS and GBAS techniques. Robotics applied to agriculture. Mechatronics. Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in agriculture. Resource optimization, biomass reuse, and an overview of bioreactors for small-scale energy production. Types of plants, sensors, and actuators used, along with their operating principles and control systems for bioprocess functional parameters. Structural characteristics, components, facilities, and ancillary equipment associated with bio-energy production plants. Overview of other renewable energy sources (hydroelectric, solar thermal, photovoltaic, wind, and geothermal).

Textbook Information

The lecturer provides on e-Learning platform all the slides used to explain the arguments of the course, in order to provide a guide for the individual study. The following reference books are also suggested, although students are free to consult any other book about the same topics:

1. Casa R. – Agricoltura di precisione. Metodi e tecnologie per migliorare l'efficienza e la sostenibilità dei sistemi colturali – Edagricole - Edizioni Agricole di New Business Media srl. Milano. (ISBN 978-88-506-5510-6).

2. Misturini R. – Precision farming. Strumenti e tecnologie per un'agricoltura evoluta – Edagricole - Edizioni Agricole di New Business Media srl. Milano. (ISBN 978-88-506-5587-8).

3. Basso B., Sartori L., Bertocco M. – Agricoltura di precisione. Concetti teorici e applicazioni pratiche – Edizioni L'Informatore Agrario SpA. Verona. (ISBN 978-88-7220-229-9).

4. Bertocco M. – Agricoltura di precisione. Guida pratica all’introduzione in azienda – Edizioni L'Informatore Agrario SpA. Verona. (ISBN 978-88-7220-283-8).

5. Zhang Q, Pierce F.J. – Agricultural Automation: Fundamentals and Practices – CRC Press - Taylor & Francis Group. Boca Ratom, FL. (ISBN 978-1-4398-8057-9).

6. Prassler E., Zöllner M., Bischoff R., Burgard W., Haschke R., Hägele M., Lawitzky G., Nebel B., Plöger P., Reiser U. – Towards Service Robots for Everyday Environments – Springer. (ISBN 978-3-642-25116-0).

7. Rodríguez N. – Advanced Mechanics in Robotic Systems – Springer. (ISBN 978-0-85729-588-0).

8. Bocci E., Caﬀarelli A., Villarini M., D'Amato A. – Sistemi a biomasse: progettazione e valutazione economica. Impianti di generazione di calore ed elettricità – Maggioli Editore. Rimini (ISBN 978-88-3875-969-7).

Author	Title	Publisher	ISBN
Casa R.	Agricoltura di precisione. Metodi e tecnologie per migliorare l'efficienza e la sostenibilità dei sistemi colturali	Edagricole - Edizioni Agricole di New Business Media srl. Milano	978-88-506-5510-6
Misturini R.	Precision farming. Strumenti e tecnologie per un'agricoltura evoluta	Edagricole - Edizioni Agricole di New Business Media srl. Milano	978-88-506-5587-8
Basso B., Sartori L., Bertocco M.	Agricoltura di precisione. Concetti teorici e applicazioni pratiche	Edizioni L'Informatore Agrario SpA. Verona	978-88-7220-229-9
Bertocco M.	Agricoltura di precisione. Guida pratica all’introduzione in azienda	Edizioni L'Informatore Agrario SpA. Verona.	978-88-7220-283-8
Zhang Q, Pierce F.J.	Agricultural Automation: Fundamentals and Practices	CRC Press - Taylor & Francis Group. Boca Ratom, FL.	978-1-4398-8057-9
Prassler E., Zöllner M., Bischoff R., Burgard W., Haschke R., Hägele M., Lawitzky G., Nebel B., Plöger P., Reiser U.	Towards Service Robots for Everyday Environments	Springer	978-3-642-25116-0
Rodríguez N.	Advanced Mechanics in Robotic Systems	Springer	978-0-85729-588-0
Casa R.	Agricoltura di precisione. Metodi e tecnologie per migliorare l'efficienza e la sostenibilità dei sistemi colturali	Edagricole - Edizioni Agricole di New Business Media srl. Milano	978-88-506-5510-6
Bocci E., Caﬀarelli A., Villarini M., D'Amato A.	Sistemi a biomasse: progettazione e valutazione economica. Impianti di generazione di calore ed elettricità	Maggioli Editore. Rimini	978-88-3875-969-7

Course Planning

	Subjects	Text References
1	Precision farming	Casa R. – Agricoltura di precisione. Metodi e tecnologie per migliorare l'efficienza e la sostenibilità dei sistemi colturali – Edagricole - Edizioni Agricole di New Business Media srl. Milano. (ISBN 978-88-506-5510-6).
2	Precision farming	Misturini R. – Precision farming. Strumenti e tecnologie per un'agricoltura evoluta – Edagricole - Edizioni Agricole di New Business Media srl. Milano. (ISBN 978-88-506-5587-8).
3	Precision farming	Basso B., Sartori L., Bertocco M. – Agricoltura di precisione. Concetti teorici e applicazioni pratiche – Edizioni L'Informatore Agrario SpA. Verona. (ISBN 978-88-7220-229-9).
4	Precision farming	Bertocco M. – Agricoltura di precisione. Guida pratica all’introduzione in azienda – Edizioni L'Informatore Agrario SpA. Verona. (ISBN 978-88-7220-283-8).
5	Precision farming	Zhang Q, Pierce F.J. – Agricultural Automation: Fundamentals and Practices – CRC Press - Taylor & Francis Group. Boca Ratom, FL. (ISBN 978-1-4398-8057-9).
6	Agricultural Robotics	Prassler E., Zöllner M., Bischoff R., Burgard W., Haschke R., Hägele M., Lawitzky G., Nebel B., Plöger P., Reiser U. – Towards Service Robots for Everyday Environments – Springer. (ISBN 978-3-642-25116-0).
7	Agricultural Robotics	Rodríguez N. – Advanced Mechanics in Robotic Systems – Springer. (ISBN 978-0-85729-588-0).
8	Sensors, actuators, UAV, GNSS	Casa R. – Agricoltura di precisione. Metodi e tecnologie per migliorare l'efficienza e la sostenibilità dei sistemi colturali – Edagricole - Edizioni Agricole di New Business Media srl. Milano. (ISBN 978-88-506-5510-6).
9	Energy from biomass	Bocci E., Caﬀarelli A., Villarini M., D'Amato A. – Sistemi a biomasse: progettazione e valutazione economica. Impianti di generazione di calore ed elettricità – Maggioli Editore. Rimini (ISBN 978-88-3875-969-7).

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

Oral examination covering the entire syllabus, including short exercises presented therein, electrical circuit diagrams, system/plant layouts, or block/functional diagrams discussed during lectures. These components must be produced in written form to complement the oral discussion.

Exam session dates are available on the Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment website at the following link: https://www.di3a.unict.it/it/corsi/lm-7/calendario-esami-profitto.

Assessment will consider the relevance and quality of the answers provided, as well as the command of technical language demonstrated, reasoning ability, and the capacity to make connections across the cross-disciplinary knowledge acquired throughout the course.

Specifically, the following criteria will be applied:

Unsatisfactory / Fail
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: significant shortcomings and inaccuracies. Ability to analyze and synthesize: irrelevant with frequent generalizations. Use of references: completely inappropriate.

18-20
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: very modest with evident imperfections. Analysis and synthesis skills: barely adequate. Use of references: just appropriate.

21-23
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: knowledge is slightly above the minimum acceptable level. Ability to analyze and synthesize: a fair bility to analyze and synthesize information, presenting arguments in a logical and coherent manner. Using references: use standard references.

24-26
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: good knowledge. Analysis and synthesis skills: good analytical and synthesis abilities, arguments are presented consistently. Using references: use of standard references.

27-29
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: knowledge more than good. Ability to analyze and synthesize: considerable abilities of analysis and synthesis. Use of references: the topic has been explored in depth.

30-30 cum laude
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: excellent knowledge. Ability to analyze and synthesize: excellent abilities of analysis and synthesis. Use of references: important insights.

Learning assessment may also be carried out on-line, should the conditions require it. To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, students may request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures based on educational objectives and specific needs. Students can also contact the CInAP (Centro per l’integrazione Attiva e Partecipata — Servizi per le Disabilità e/o DSA) through the referring professor within the department, (https://www.cinap.unict.it/content/referenti).

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

Description of the components and principle of operation of a thermoregulation system for the production of biomethane.
Block diagram of an anaerobic digestion plant.
Principle of operation of a Global Navigation Satellite System.

What is a sensor.

Degree Course in

Agricultural Biotechnology