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But how good was it in the actual weeding, you ask?
Baresich said that the Dino and Oz performed very
well. With regards to intercrop weeds, the robots were
great controlling weeds between the rows, though
sometimes multiple passes were required.
He noted that weed capture was ideal when the
weeds were small—which may imply that autonomous
weeders can be applied early and often during
the season to stay on top of weeds before growth
becomes large and difficult.
Crop growth patterns matter, said Baresich. The crops
with a horizontal growth, such as tomatoes, have a
limited weeding window, though that window could
be extended if leaf guards were attached to the robot.
Still, said Baresich, farms with vertical growth crops,
or nurseries and berry farms could see great success
with autonomous weeding technology.
After all was said and done, Baresich said the Oz and
Dino robots performed very well at the designated
weed control assignment—especially since all involved
were new to the technology.
He summed up saying that it appeared as though
the best process involved tackling small weeds with
multiple passes.
The working group will continue its meetings and
experimentation in 2022, with plans to formalize
the use of robotics systems with farmer
cooperators.
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BUT HOW GOOD WAS IT IN THE ACTUAL
WEEDING, YOU ASK?