SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
from the taking-ai-robot-lasers-down-in-the-dirt dept.
The agricultural world is witnessing a remarkable transformation, driven by groundbreaking technology. Among the most fascinating innovations is a farming robot equipped with lasers that can destroy hundreds of thousands of weeds in mere hours. This high-tech solution is not just a marvel of engineering but a timely response to persistent challenges in farming, from labor shortages to the environmental impact of chemical herbicides:
By combining artificial intelligence with precision laser technology, companies like Carbon Robotics are reshaping the way farmers tackle one of agriculture's most labor-intensive tasks. These futuristic machines offer a glimpse into the potential of sustainable farming, where innovation meets efficiency, paving the way for a healthier and more productive future for agriculture.
[...] In the face of persistent agricultural challenges, technology has emerged as a transformative force, with farming robots leading the way. Carbon Robotics' Autonomous Weeder is a standout example of how innovation can revolutionize agriculture. This remarkable machine is designed to address the dual problems of labor shortages and environmental damage caused by conventional weed management practices. By combining artificial intelligence with advanced laser technology, the Autonomous Weeder delivers an unprecedented level of precision and efficiency.
The robot operates with minimal human intervention, scanning rows of crops using 12 high-resolution cameras that detect weeds in real time. Its onboard AI system processes this information, distinguishing weeds from crops with incredible accuracy. Once a weed is identified, carbon dioxide lasers target and destroy it instantly, leaving the surrounding soil undisturbed. This approach eliminates the need for chemical herbicides, reducing environmental harm while preserving soil health. It also alleviates the physical burden of manual weeding, offering farmers a more efficient alternative.
[...] The LaserWeeder is equipped with three times the lasers of the original model, enabling it to kill up to 200,000 weeds per hour. This incredible efficiency makes it one of the most effective weed management tools available. In just one hour, the LaserWeeder can cover two acres of farmland, a feat that would take human laborers days to achieve. [...] This targeted approach not only boosts productivity but also supports healthier, more sustainable farming practices.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by VLM on Tuesday November 26, @08:33PM (9 children)
I found a paper from 1965 that plants are black in the far IR so that's probably why they used a CO2 laser instead of something funner-looking like red or blue laser.
https://opg.optica.org/ao/fulltext.cfm?uri=ao-4-1-11&id=13623 [optica.org]
Note that just like using a propane weedburner you don't need to vaporize the plant merely heat it to cooked/wilted/blanched. A robot propane weedburner would be a sight to see.
The main problem with robot ideas like this is the capex and supervisory cost and fire insurance cost is pretty high compared to human labor, or even human tele-operation labor.
I would not want to drive a lawnmower or other outdoor equipment as a job where I live given the questionable weather and clouds of mosquitos etc. However I'd probably pay to play a 'game' on steam about laser zapping weeds, could be fun.
(Score: 4, Touché) by HiThere on Tuesday November 26, @08:46PM (2 children)
After you handle the weeds, the next level is the mosquitoes
Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.
(Score: 2) by Tork on Tuesday November 26, @10:59PM
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 2) by sjames on Wednesday November 27, @07:27AM
There's something amusing about a little robotic AA gun to take out mosquitoes.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by JoeMerchant on Tuesday November 26, @08:52PM (2 children)
>fire insurance cost is pretty high
Not if you're doing your moisture cycles right... fire shouldn't be much of a consideration at all while the crop is in the growth phase, where weed competition matters.
The hope would be that capex drops due to mass production. I really like the idea of lots of little bots getting the job done, instead of giant high capex combines. If you can keep up with 10 microbots per acre, on a nice modest 80 acre corn field that's 800 bots, which hopefully can be redeployed on other crops when the corn isn't needing them.
🌻🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 2) by Reziac on Wednesday November 27, @02:33AM (1 child)
I want a little one for my garden. If I get one week behind in the spring weeding, I have Jurassic Weedpark.
Seems to me if you can OCR "kill everything but the desirable plants", you could OCR the undesirable instead. Frex, go forth and kill only goatheads, mallow, sowthistle, and cheat grass. Here's a picture of each at the first identifiable stage. Don't touch anything else.
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday November 27, @01:13PM
There was(is) the Tertill, it looks exceptionally lame and overpriced to me, I have been waiting for a worthy successor for years...
🌻🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 5, Interesting) by aafcac on Tuesday November 26, @08:55PM (2 children)
You don't need to set the weeds on fire, you just need to destroy the waxy outer coating that keeps the water in. Once that's gone, the plant will die relatively quickly the same way most animals will if they lose too much skin. People have been using steam based systems for a while, this doesn't use any water, but probably uses more electricity. It would be interesting to see a comparison about which method is more environmentally friendly.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 27, @04:06PM (1 child)
It could focus the sunlight into a sharp point. Where's my Nobel prize??
(Score: 2) by aafcac on Thursday November 28, @12:25AM
TBH, that's not a particularly bad idea, although it is somewhat limited in how far away you can be from the weeds and the need for sun.