At the 2023 FIRA USA Robotics and Autonomous Farming Solutions Forum last month, some of the latest automated and robotic technologies were demonstrated in the field. Several of the weeding technologies demonstrated are brand new to the U.S. and/or Yuma, AZ area. These included a 5.6 inch2 (2.4 x 2.4 inch) resolution fixed boomed spot sprayer (Fig. 1), a high precision, “turret gun” spot sprayer (Fig. 2) and a mechanical weeder that utilizes a unique rotating blade design and lidar for depth control (Fig. 3). Although the test runs were short, I was impressed with the performance and possibilities of these machines. Company representatives said that they would be traveling to Arizona for the season and would like to meet with growers interested in their technology. Company contact information can be found at their respective websites, or feel free to contact me if you would like additional information.
Fig. 1. Ecorobotix1 (Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland) precision weeding machine
demonstration at 2023 FIRA USA. The unit has modular, 6.6’ wide spray booms
equipped with 156 individually controllable spray nozzles to spot spray weeds
(top right). A vision system is used to detect weeds and spot spray resolution is
2.4 x 2.4 inches. Darker soil indicates where spray (water) was delivered to
targeted weeds (bottom).
Fig. 3. GreenTech Robotics’ Weed Spider1 (Kelvin Grove, New Zealand)
demonstration at 2023 FIRA USA. The unit is equipped with a vision system for
detecting crop plants and weeds, and blades that move in and out of the crop row
to remove in-row weeds. Lidar sensors are used to create a 3-D image of the soil
surface and control cultivating blade depth.
[1] Reference to a product or company is for specific information only and does not endorse or recommend that product or company to the exclusion of others that may be suitable.
