Future Live

Future Live – Robotic weeding in the field

KWS tests weed robots in the field

Demands for more sustainability in agriculture and increasing regulations for crop protection: The agricultural industry is undergoing rapid change and presenting farmers with greater challenges. Against this background, KWS is tackling the future topics surrounding economical and sustainable crop production outside of its core business as well.

With the project “Future Live – Robotic weeding in the field” KWS tests together with the University of Göttingen and the German "Institut für Zuckerrübenforschung" (Institute for Sugarbeet Research) (IfZ) innovative solutions for combating weeds in sugarbeet farming under real field conditions. The tests will be separated in weeding challenges and practical experiences at farmers fields.

Aim of the project is:

to offer the manufacturers of these innovative robot systems a platform for their technology

to discuss innovative weeding solutions for sugarbeet

to identify application potentials for precision weeding technologies in sugarbeet

to test innovative technologies under real field conditions

With our project “Future Live – Robotic Weeding in the Field”, we want to offer manufacturers of these innovative robot systems a platform for their technology, because weed control with robots can make a significant contribution to a more sustainable agriculture.

We also want to promote the constructive dialogue, the exchange and cooperation between the robotics manufacturers, breeding and the farmers.

Jörg Philipps, Head of BU sugarbeet

The robots

From March until June 2020, the following three robots from different manufacturers have been in use in organically and conventionally cultivated KWS sugarbeet farms in Wiebrechtshausen and Wetze, Germany:

The Robots

ecoRobotix AVO

Robot platform:

750 kg (fully loaded)
Max. speed: 1m/s
Adjustable wheel and crop spacing
GPS RTK
Lidar and ultra sound sensors for obstacle detection
4WD
Working speed: up to 10 ha/day

Working tool:

51 nozzle spray bar (2.04 m working width)
Row-tracking camera
Weed detection
Treatment area: 16 cm2 (on soil)
Treatment up to plant height of 30 cm

Results:

Effect on beets and weeds: 

78,4 % reduction of herbicide compared to conventional spraying
Treatment had no effect on N° of Sugarbeet in the field (ca. 110k plants/ha)
On the second spraying run the sugarbeet were already too big, 
many smaller weeds were not affected (data not shown)

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths:

Herbicide savings
4-wheel drive
Algorithm adjustable to specific needs
Less susceptible to wind than regular spraying systems

Weaknesses:

The more weed, the less herbicide savings
Only for leaf active herbicides
Working speed and treated area much less when compared to conventional broad spray tractor hitch system

Farming revolution

Robot platform:

Weight: n.d.
Speed: up to 0.5 m/s (with current working tools)
Flexible power: battery or diesel engine
4 wheels
RTK (not implemented in 2020)

Working tool:

2-4 rows (weeding only within-row)
Camera system to distinguish weeds from beets
Software to implement field and position of rows
Information of camera to steer weeding tools towards weeds
Rotating discs to remove weeds
Adjustable tool size and working depth
Treated area: 0.07-0.1 ha/h

Results:

3 in-row weeding treatments
Combined with additional inter-row hoeing (tractor hitch)
Up to 30% weeds removed in the row per treatment
Weeds close to the beet are not always removed and grow large (handweeding still needed for clean field)

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths:

Strong tools able to remove large weeds (e.g. potatoes)
Camera system can provide farmer with real-time data for field monitoring
Aggressiveness (how close to weed around Sugarbeet) can be adjusted according to field emergence
Cameras decrease the dependency on precise RTK signal

Weaknesses:

No full autonomy yet and no weeding between rows
Hitting large weeds can become difficult because of prediction of the stem position
High weed density may lead to higher number of runs through the field
Still handweeding needed to remove remaining weeds

FarmDroid

Robot platform:

800 kg (fully loaded)
Speed: 0.5-1m/s
RTK + GSM
Solar panels, 4 batteries up to 1.6 kWh
2 x 400 W engine
3 wheels (2 back wheels for steering)

Working tool:

Sowing

Singling wheel, seed valve, disc coulters
Seed falls 2-3 cm above ground
Pressure roll and closure

Weeding

Adjustable steel wires between rows
In row tool up to 2 cm close to the beet
Capacity: 20 ha on average per season

Results:

FD20 weekly weeding after sowing
Space between sugarbeets is relatively clean
In-row weed removal between the plants similar to hand weeding
Weeds very close to the beet are not removed and grow large
Handweeding still needed for clean field

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths:

First commercially available autonomous between and in-row weeding system for sugarbeet on the market (first mover)W
Weather conditions perfect for solar-based energy supply
Does sowing + weeding: added value for farmers
Potential to significantly reduce handweeding costs in organic fields

Weaknesses:

Adjustment of the robot for specific field conditions and regular monitoring is recommended
Additional handweeding needed to remove weeds close to the beet
Absolute dependency on mobile signal (GSM) for high GPS accuracy and software updates
Regular weeding once per week is necessary to hit weeds when they are small