The John Lewis Partnership has teamed up with a British robotics company to develop weed-killing AI bots with lasers.
The Small Robot Company (SRC) aim to 'reimagine food production' trialling three of their bots over three years on Waitrose supplier farm The Leckford Estate, in Hampshire, which grows mushrooms, rapeseed, apples alongside other crops.
The autonomous robot trio named Tom, Dick and Harry, will work on one hectare of wheat, learning to differentiate between weeds and terrain, with SRC hoping to build new prototypes from their research.
The field trial will start with a prototype Tom robot, which is fitted with cameras that gather topographical data. Weighing just ten kilos, the robot is able to move autonomously to obtain a pin-point accurate, plant-by-plant view of the wheat field, leading to higher efficiency.
Andrew Hoad, partner and head of the Leckford Estate said: “We are very excited to trial Tom, Dick and Harry at the Leckford Estate. The Waitrose & Partners farm has a long history in producing a wide variety of high quality crops. We work hard to farm in harmony with the environment and our vision for sustainable farming is aligned to what the Small Robot Company is trying to achieve.
“This new technology could be revolutionary for British farming. It is not designed to replace human labour but instead boost productivity and increase accuracy, freeing up the agricultural workforce to focus on other important tasks. We want to be at the forefront of this, and ensure we leave our soils and environment in great shape for future generations.”
Farming costs have risen almost 8 per cent year on year, with labour shortages hitting farms’ capacity to grow and pick crops. While still in its infancy, robotics are seen as a core part of future British horticulture strategy.
The data gathered by the Tom prototype will be used to develop an AI system called Wilma, which will eventually guide the three robots to farm autonomously.
The trial will also help new versions of the precision weeding bot Dick, and digital planting bot Harry. Dick will use machine vision to locate weeds and kill them with lasers, while Harry will punch plant seeds individually into the ground.
Waitrose say that the bots also deliver environmental benefits with their lighter weight causing no damage to the soil in contrast to much larger tractors. The robots will also be able to take care of each plant on an individual basis, giving them the perfect level of nutrients and support, without waste.
Sam Watson Jones, co-founder of Small Robot Company and a fourth generation Shropshire farmer, said: “We’re positively thrilled to have the John Lewis Partnership and Waitrose & Partners farm on board to help us develop our robots.
“Together, we will be working to reimagine food production. We’re on the cusp of a fourth agricultural revolution, taking farming into the digital age: and with British ideas and British technology at the helm. Our Tom, Dick and Harry robots will completely transform what’s possible on the farm.
“We will be able to use gardening tactics such as companion planting, but for broadacre crops. Different crops could be planted alongside each other in the same field, and harvested at different times. It’s the ultimate sustainable farming model.”
