Robot Weeder

Robot Weeder

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
“We have seen hundreds of scientific studies which show harm from Roundup and related toxic chemicals, not just glyphosate but the other ingredients inside of Roundup.” Those words about weed killing Roundup come from Zen Honeycutt, Director of Moms Across America who also claims that Roundup is ubiquitous and can be found in breast milk, tap water, children’s urine, cereal, cotton products, beer, and wine. Well science and technology may be coming to the rescue.

 

A University of California-Davis team developed a high-speed machine that can not only distinguish weeds from the value crop, but can eliminate those weeds as carefully as a backyard gardener working by hand. The robotic cultivator uses a sensor to detect a faint fluorescent glow that seedlings emit when their seeds are coated with a special material prior to planting.  Mounting these sensors on a tractor equipped with mini hoe-blades allows the weeder to move faster than traditional cultivators, with the potential to save up to 25 percent per acre off the cost of weeding by hand. The project will not only save farmers money, but will also prevent herbicide overload in the environment and reduce farm workers’ exposure to chemicals.

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