Autonomous Weeding Robot with Surface-Contact Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing weeding tools for agricultural and gardening applications are either manual, inefficient, or cause damage to healthy plants, and lack the agility and automation needed for effective weed removal.
Innovation Solution
A weeding tool comprising a walking robot with a control unit, navigation device, and actuating device, equipped with a clamp-like weed removal device that can autonomously detect and remove weeds by sensing contact with the plantation surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a rapidly rotating thread similar to a lawn trimmer is used to remove weeds, then weed removal speed is improved, but healthy plants are damaged and additional mowing protection is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a sensing unit that provides feedback to detect the presence of healthy plants. Based on this feedback, the control unit adjusts the operation of the rotating thread or activates the protective device only when weeds are detected, preventing damage to healthy plants while maintaining efficient weed removal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a protective device as an intermediary between the rotating thread and healthy plants. This protective device can be raised or lowered based on detected plant types, allowing the rotating thread to remove weeds efficiently while protecting healthy plants from damage
2Object-affected harmful factors
If additional mowing protection is attached to protect healthy plants, then plant protection is improved, but the system becomes more complex and requires time-consuming adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The protective device is designed with dynamic adjustment capabilities, allowing it to be raised or lowered based on real-time detection of plant types. This dynamic adjustment reduces the need for manual intervention and simplifies operation compared to fixed protective structures
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses automated detection and control mechanisms that enable the protective device to adjust itself based on sensor input, eliminating the need for manual adjustment and reducing system complexity from the user perspective
3Reliability
If field robots follow a strict lane for weed removal, then navigation control is improved, but agility is reduced and the robot cannot adapt to varying plant positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a movable protective device that can dynamically adjust its position and orientation based on real-time detection of plant locations. This dynamic capability allows the robot to maintain reliable navigation while adapting to varying plant positions and demonstrating agility in the field
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing unit provides continuous feedback on plant positions, enabling the control unit to adjust the protective device and robot navigation in real-time. This feedback loop maintains navigation reliability while allowing adaptive response to varying field conditions
Data Source
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AI summary
A weeding tool (100) for picking up weeds from a plantation surface (G) includes a control unit to control the working of the weeding tool (100). Further, a navigation device is communicably coupled with the control unit to navigate the weeding tool (100) on the plantation surface (G) to detect weeds on the plantation surface (G). Further, an actuating device (300, 310) is communicably coupled with the control unit such that the actuating device (300, 310) is an electric device configured to actuate a movement in the weed removal device (400) towards and away from the plantation surface (G) respectively. The weeding tool (100) is characterized in that the control unit includes a sensing unit configured to sense a touch of the weed removal device (400) with the plantation surface (G) on which the weed is grown. The weeding tool (100) commences picking up of weed from the plantation surface (G) after the sensing unit senses the touch of the weed removal device (400) with the plantation surface (G).