By Raynard Churchwell
According to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, up to 40 percent of global crop production is lost annually due to pests eating them. To stem the tide, a Kennesaw State University researcher is tapping into low-cost robotic systems as a chemical-free method to protect strawberry yields.
Currently a research concept in development, MocoBot is a low-cost, AI-powered robot that uses night vision and autonomous navigation to detect and remove pests from strawberry fields without chemicals or human intervention.
Conceived by assistant professor Taeyeong Choi, MocoBot uses night vision cameras and artificial intelligence to autonomously navigate strawberry fields, detect slugs and snails, and remove them without human intervention or harmful chemicals. Unlike conventional pest management methods, which can damage the environment by blanket-spraying pesticides, MocoBot offers a targeted, sustainable solution.
By capturing specialized nighttime imagery and training AI models to perform in low-light environments, MocoBot is designed to operate when pests are most active, giving farmers an edge they’ve never had before.
Source : kennesaw.edu