A new robot for fighting weeds that uses solar panels and AI optics is being trialled in Switzerland.
Designers ecoRobotix, attached a pair of robotic arms beneath a photovoltaic top, which give targeted doses of pesticides to weeds that survived mass spraying.
The fully autonomous robot can detect 95 per cent of weeds in a field, destroying them with less energy than standard attempts, and can cover three hectares a day.
Founder and CEO Aurélien Demaurex said: “Our vision is to contribute to the emergence of a form of agriculture that respects the environment, focusing on conservation of the soil and hydrological resources, and using a minimum amount of energy.
“We will do that by developing innovative farming machines that require low energy and reduce the negative ecological impact of modern agriculture, while keeping costs competitive.”
The robot weighs 130kgs and is fitted with a camera, a GNSS navigation system and an artificial vision system. This artificial vision system enables the detection of crop rows and weeds, while the spraying system then applies herbicides.
The company has successfully applied the machine on sugar beet and oilseed rape crops, with future upgrades aiming to expand its repertoire. The robots could be introduced by the end of the year.
