Kit Franklin

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Kit Franklin is an agricultural engineer and researcher whose work sits at the intersection of robotics, autonomous systems, and farm economics. Based at Harper Adams University, Franklin has become a leading voice in the emerging field of agricultural automation, exploring how robot-assisted and fully autonomous farming systems can reshape the economic and ecological landscape of modern agriculture. Franklin's most cited work, "Economically optimal farmer supervision of crop robots" (2022, 20 citations), tackled one of the central regulatory challenges facing autonomous farming — the cost implications of mandatory human oversight — providing a rigorous economic framework that continues to inform policy discussions. His subsequent research on strip cropping economics (2024, 9 citations) and swarm robotics for regenerative agriculture (2025, 7 citations) has pushed the boundaries of what autonomous systems can achieve in complex, ecologically sensitive farming contexts, demonstrating profit increases of over £56 per hectare annually through autonomous regenerative practices. Perhaps most publicly celebrated is Franklin's involvement in the Hands Free Hectare project, a landmark demonstration that a fully autonomous arable cropping cycle is practically achievable using commercially available and open-source technology. This pioneering project captured global attention and exemplifies Franklin's commitment to collaborative, ambitious, and openly accessible agricultural research.