Robot That Kills 120 Weeds Per Minute Could End Use Of Herbicide In Farms

A team of scientists from a Bosch startup called Deepfield Robotics recently developed an artificially intelligent and flexible agricultural robot that could revolutionize current methods in crop farming, as well as reduce the environmental impacts of weed control.

The compact car-sized robot, known as the BoniRob, uses laser positioning and satellite navigation to find its way around the fields, and it could detect its location to the closest centimeter, developers said.

Researchers estimated that farmers need to produce 3 percent more crops per year to keep up with population growth. In a paper presented [pdf] at the Intelligent Robots and Systems or IROS 2015 International Conference that occurred during Sept. 28 to Oct. 2 this year, developers explained how the BoniRob could contribute to novel innovations in technology.

Image Recognition Is Key

The BoniRob could render methods of plant breeding to be more effective and protect crops from weeds, researchers said. It could detect the shape of leaves and distinguish the difference between weeds and crops through image recognition.

Then, using a rod, the robot mechanically clears up weeds, and not with chemicals. This is why experts believe that the use of herbicide in farms could be ended as farmers begin to use the BoniRob.

Researchers explained that the BoniRob was designed after previous studies by plant scientists where the latter analyzed which crops could be improved. These scientists' tests were all done through manual lab work. In German, this plant assessment process is called Bonitur, and this is where the BoniRob gets its name.

With the BoniRob's automatic image recognition and an algorithm that analyzes photos, effort and time originally allocated for plant appraisal will be saved, scientists said.

"We are leveraging our expertise in sensor technology, algorithms, and image recognition to make a contribution to improving quality of life, even in areas that are new for Bosch," explained Deepfield Robotics General Manager Amos Albert.

In Case Of Confusion

However, there is a challenge. During the early stages of development of chamomile and carrots, their leaves look very similar, and this could become a problem for the BoniRob.

The solution? Albert and his colleagues made use of machine learning which involves a huge amount of image files where the weeds are highlighted.

Albert explained that the robot will learn to differentiate more and more precisely between plants that they want and the plants that they do not want based on properties such as leaf shape, size and color.

In the meantime, Deepfield scientists are still conducting real-world tests on farms with the BoniRob, but they intend to sell or rent models out to farmers.

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Free online course from Berkeley teaches how to build your own robot at home

About this course
EE40LX teaches the fundamentals of engineering electronic interfaces between the physical world and digital devices. Students can expect to cover the material of a traditional first circuits course with a project-based approach. We start with essential theory and develop an understanding of the building blocks of electronics as we analyze, design, and build different parts of a robot from scratch around a microcontroller. This course uses the Texas Instruments MSP430G2 LaunchPad, but you are welcome to bring whichever development board or microcontroller you like!



Useful mathematics will be discussed where appropriate, but only a working knowledge of high school algebra is required to follow along for most of the course. The philosophy of the course is to learn by doing, so every lecture features a substantial lab component. Students are invited to work together in small groups to build their own robots along with the instructors. There will also be individual circuit analysis and design exercises to reinforce the theories presented in the course. Those who successfully complete each theory assignment and earn a passing grade will get an Honor Code certificate from BerkeleyX.

Additionally, a kit of electronic components will be available from Newark element14 starting June 12. The kit is not necessary to obtain a certificate for this run of the course, but it will greatly enhance your learning experience. Some mechanical components are required to complete the robot as presented in the course. Also, the lab experience will be most effective if you have access to a digital multimeter.

Creativity is encouraged! Students who are willing to work outside the bounds of the class to develop their own inventions will get the most out of this guided learning experience.

MyDAQ Information Those who do not have access to an oscilloscope or a digital multimeter might consider purchasing a MyDAQ to enable measurements. The video modules use the MyDAQ and the MyProtoBoard as measurement equipment to debug circuits. National Instruments has made available the MyDAQ for students in this course. If you are interested, take a look at the MyDAQ ordering page: http://www.studica.com/us/en/BerkeleyMOOC.html

Parts Kit Information The parts included in the construction of the robot can be purchased at Newark's landing page, which can be found here: http://www.element14.com/community/community/learning-center/online-learning/moocs/edxucb-bridging

A detailed bill of materials with more information can be found here: courses.edx.org/asset-v1:BerkeleyX+EE40LX+2T2015+type@asset+block@EE40LX_PartsList_Summer15.pdf

What is the format of the class? The class consists of eight modules. Every module consists of a combination of theory-based lectures and lab-based discussions where we apply that module’s theory to building a part of a robot. Quiz exercises are sprinkled throughout the videos to reinforce your knowledge and every module ends with a problem set that reinforces the design and analysis aspects of the class.

Is this class taught at UC Berkeley? This class is part of the laboratory component of "EE40: Introduction to Microelectronic Systems," the first circuit analysis course at UC Berkeley. It was specifically designed for the online course format.

What will the robot do? The bare-bones robot that we build will be capable of bouncing around, responding to light or touch inputs, and responding to a loud audio signal.

What supplies and equipment will I need to get the most out of this course? In order to download programs to the MSP430 microcontroller, you will need access to a modern operating system (Apple, Windows, or Linux) with the Energia environment (http://energia.nu/download) installed. Additionally, access to some wire cutters and pliers would be useful. Also, the lab experience will be most effective if you have access to a digital multimeter. An oscilloscope would be useful, but not necessary.

The NI MyDAQ has been made available for students who would like to follow along with the course. The robot project as presented also requires a few wooden craft sticks and two springs which can be found at a local hardware store.

How much does the kit cost? The parts kit will cost around $50 USD for most parts. You are welcome to purchase a kit with another student and to work together on labs to split costs. We will also demonstrate other parts not in the kit for those interested in extending their projects.

Will I need to know how to program? Sample programs are provided in each module that will allow you to test your own circuits with an MSP430 LaunchPad controller. These programs will be explained in optional videos for interested students. If you already know how to code, you can tweak these programs to add additional functionality to your project.

Will this course cover microcontroller programming? No. Sample programs written in Energia, a high-level language, will be provided, but programming will not be explicitly covered. Students interested in learning microcontroller programming should refer to UT Austinx’s Embedded Systems course.

What if I already have a microcontroller? Since analog electronics are the emphasis of the course, you should feel free to use any microcontroller you feel comfortable with. However, the use of any other microcontrollers would require you to write your own programs.

Is there a required textbook? No textbook is required for this course. Handouts are provided for the concepts presented in the class; material for some of these handouts is taken from the 2nd edition of the book Circuits by Fawwaz Ulaby and Michel Maharbiz and we recommend the book as way to delve deeper into basic circuit concepts. We also occasionally provide links to web content that we find useful or informative.

See more about Electronic Interfaces: Bridging the Physical and Digital Worlds - CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW TO ENROLL

What you'll learn Fundamentals for engineering electronic interfaces between the physical world and digital devices Develop an understanding of the building blocks of electronics Analyze, design, and build different parts of a robot from scratch

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