The war against weeds has a new, unexpected ally: a robot armed with a flamethrower. Modern agriculture called for reinforcements. In a paper (that I link to you here) researchers from Texas A&M and Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence showed a “special” version of Spot, the famous quadruped robot from Boston Dynamics.
The particularity? Spot has been reprogrammed to seek out and “stun” weeds with short bursts of fire. It could be a turning point in the way we manage crops, drastically reducing the use of chemical herbicides.
An out of the ordinary agricultural robot
Spot, the robot from Boston Dynamics, is known for its agility and versatility: we've even seen it on patrol at the treasures of Pompeii. His new setup for weed control, however, is something truly surreal.
The quadruped robot, already equipped with advanced sensors and artificial intelligence capabilities, is now able to identify and treat unwanted weeds with astonishing precision. Some time ago we told you about another robot that weeds he knew how to tear them "with his little hand", but do you want to put the power of this?
How does the “pyromaniac robot dog” work against weeds?
Spot carries a small propane tank on his back, which powers a mini flamethrower mounted on his robotic arm. There's not much more to say, but don't let the term "flamethrower" fool you:
The idea is that Spot wanders around farmland looking for weeds and, once found, stuns them by blasting their midsections with hot gas.
The goal is not to completely burn the pest, but to heat its core enough to stop its growth for several weeks.
Precision and efficiency: the strengths
During testing in a cotton field in Texas, Spot demonstrated remarkable accuracy. It has been programmed to focus on specific weeds, such as common sunflower and giant ragweed. This observation and selection capability is a significant advance over traditional methods.
Using a robot like Spot for weed control offers several potential benefits:
- Reduction in the use of chemical herbicides, resulting in less environmental impact.
- Targeted treatment that spares the desired crops.
- Possibility of frequent and precise interventions.
- Potential long-term cost reduction.
Challenges to overcome
Despite the promising results, there are still obstacles to overcome. The most noticeable is the limited battery life: Spot was only able to do its job for 40 minutes at a time.
This limitation will require further developments in battery technology or alternative strategies to extend Spot's operational time in the fields.
Implications for the future of agriculture
The introduction of robots like Spot into the agricultural sector could mark the beginning of a new era in precision agriculture. Sure, the idea of a robot wandering around fields with a flamethrower might seem bizarre, but it's a pretty innovative approach.
In the future, we may see teams of robots working tirelessly in the fields, managing crops with never-before-seen precision and efficiency. And to the classic saying "the bad grass never dies" can we always say "are you sure?"
