Autonomous Mechanical Weeding Robot: weed·R1

The Spring Agriculture weed·R1 weeding robot is a lightweight, fully autonomous robot capable of finding and removing broadleaf weeds within grassland or row-crops. The above-ground growth of the weed is removed mechanically with a spinning blade. The robot is intended to run over the same ground periodically, perhaps at two-week intervals, to remove weed regrowth. This is repeated as necessary until weeds are outcompeted by surrounding growth, or the growing season ends.

By reducing or removing the need for herbicides, the robot reduces farm operating costs, supports soil health and biodiversity, and helps prevent herbicide resistance. Being non-chemical allows weed control in, for example, organic and SFI contexts, which can be complex to manage.

The weed·R1 in operation

The weed·R1 is managed by creating areas for it to weed. When told to start or continue weeding within an area it will drive itself to its starting point, then follow a predetermined path covering the entire area. Autonomously driving at a slow walking pace, it uses its on-board cameras and on-board image analysis to scan the ground for weeds. When discovering a weed, it stops to perform the weed removal, then continues. It is configurable which species of plant it considers to be a weed.

Monitoring the weed·R1

The robot currently requires 4G mobile coverage as it operates. This allows near real-time monitoring of the robot progress using our web or phone/tablet app. Every weed has its position recorded, and is photographed before and after weeding, so effectiveness can be confirmed.

Before After

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