Technological Analysis of Types of Milking Systems and Robots: A Review

Automated milking systems are sophisticated pieces of equipment that find a very large application on modern farms. They carry out milking processes completely autonomously, thanks to a robotic arm that is equipped with numerous sensors and auxiliary devices. In this paper, the components of automated milking systems are analyzed in terms of their technological characteristics, focusing mainly on the robots used. Typically, these systems use specialized robots that have a different design structure from industrial robots and are equipped with attachments to perform different operations. As a result of the technological analysis of the systems and robots used in automated milking systems, we can summarize that the development of robotics in the livestock sector has made a significant contribution to improving milking and animal care processes. The main issues that need to be further investigated are related to improved methods for collecting animal data and milk parameters, methods and algorithms for better udder and teat recognition and localization of cows, providing improved mobility and control of robotic arms, improving additional attachments and adding additional functionality and modularity to robotic arms.