Autonomous Weeding Rover

Project Title

Autonomous Weeding Rover

Project Area of Specialization Artificial IntelligenceProject Summary

This project describes the development of an autonomous weeding Rover for the agricultural industry. The main aim was to develop this project is to design a vehicle that could later be used to develop a commercial product. The current trend in the agricultural industry is that the larger machines can Privilege from economies of scale. These heavy machines are causing three major problems for farmers; serious subsoil compaction, longer disruptions due to single-vehicle failure, and an inability to efficiently deal with weeds which have resulted in a rapid increase of herbicide-resistant weeds. This project is an attempt at solving these problems by integrating the Farm Bot of incorporated code with a lightweight, cost-efficient, aesthetically pleasing, and durable frame on wheels that can operate autonomously on farms and is being powered by solar energy. The project started by researching the agricultural industry and benchmarking similar products, which gave an understanding of the problem and how it could best be solved. It was decided that the complex problem was to be divided into several secondary problems which were then solved parallel with each other. The different concepts were evaluated using CAD. By getting up projections, conclude that it weighs around 100 kg, the parts costs around USD 600-700 and it is equipped to be able to operate autonomously for at least a day at a time. It is very easy to assemble and has a modular design, which simplifies further development. 

Project Objectives

• The main objective of this project is to design a lightweight farm rover that can detect weeds and remove them on a specific type of crop by spraying a small amount of herbicide. An appealing design is desired where the electronic equipment is attached to the frame in the best possible way.
• Another objective of this project is to make a CAD-file that shows what the rover would look like, that in the next phase could be developed into a commercial local product. This design will be in between a prototype and a commercialized product.
• The ultimate aim is to develop a well-working prototype that could show the purpose and benefits of the robot to attract future investors. The development will be done by generating different concepts that will go through several evaluations to find a design that is as cheap and lightweight as possible while keeping it a high-quality product.

Project Implementation Method

Methods:

Although the rover consists of several different parts, But a problem decomposition done where a complex problem is divided into simpler subproblems and can therefore be tackled in a more focused way. 

The Basic four-step concept generation methods used in the implementation of this project.

1. Clarify the problem. 

2. Search externally. 

3. Search internally.

 4. Explore systematically. 

Approaches:

Although we have several approachs to find an optimal solution, But the key approach we are using in this project includes different processes.

1. Identify the coustomer needs 
2. Establish the target specifications an design process 
3. Generate the product concepts
4. Select the optimal concept to implement
5. Test that product concept
6. Set final product specifications 
7. Plan downstream Development 

 By using these methods and approaches we would accomplish our final and reliable product.    

Benefits of the Project

Benefits:

There are numerous benefits, But the key benefits that Farmers would grab by using this product are Farmers no longer have to apply water, fertilizers, and pesticides uniformly across entire fields. Instead, they can use the minimum quantities required and target very specific areas, or even treat individual plants differently. 

Significant Benefits Include:

• Higher crop productivity
• Decreased use of water, fertilizer, and pesticides, which in turn keeps food prices down.
• Reduced impact on natural ecosystems
• Less runoff of chemicals into rivers and groundwater

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

Technical Requirements 

These are some technical requirements found through several discussions with the supervisor and it was understood that he wanted a rover that was: 

• Good looking 
• The structure of the rover should be designed in a way that it looks beautiful. The design must be unique from those of other rovers in the market so it might get a competitive advantage over other rovers in the market.
• Cheaper than the competitors’ products 
• While designing it should be in mind that our product must be cheaper than the other rovers like this. so in this way, we can also get a competitive advantage.
•  Better than current methods
• So, it was also a requirement from over supervisor that our project should be helpful in a different way.it must do the things that have not been done by any previous technique or method. 
• Lightweight      
• Weight was also a great thing to look for. Lightweight is compulsory actually because it has to work in the field so it may be dry or wet so if it is lightweight it will lower our problem that can be caused by the highly weighted rover.
• Driven by solar panels or by the battery.
• According to our supervisor, in the first and initial phase, we should try it with solar panel and direct connections after successful implementation of solar panel we should try batteries to store power and then use them in the field by using this power battery along with the solar panel.
•  Easy to use. 
• Another property that should include in it is it must be easy to use when it is in manual or in the auto mood. In manual we should design manuals in such a way that its interface is easy and understandable.
• Weatherproof 
• It should be weatherproof means it should not be affected by harmful weather. If it is weatherproof a great problem will be solved so the item used in the structure must be weatherproof.
•  Not harming the crops. 
• It should not be designed in the way that it harms our crops. The design must be appropriate and efficient in every respect.
•  Carrying a joystick in the future.
• So, the thing is to convert it into a manual joystick.
• Carrying adjustable cameras. 
• Cameras must be there so it can click photos and based on those photos plant will be sprayed.
• Carrying modular chemical herbicide containers that can be easily changed. 
• It can be incorporated with the tanks that can easily adjustable and also easily be changeable 
• Not getting stuck while operating. 
• The one of the major requirement is be assured that rover not get stuck while operating into any type of surface 

Specifications:

Components	Specs
Height of Rover	4 feetApproximately
Length and width of Rover	55 * 55 inches
Weight of Rover	80– 100 kg
Solar plates	2
Farm Bot	1
Batteries	Two both are 12-20V
Motors	2 Both 12V or 120V comdition dependent
Tiers	Large size Bottom 2 tires / Small size front 4 tires
Camera	1
Herbicide tanks	1
Form Boot	1
Control&configuration	By smart phone

Components

Height of Rover

Length and width of Rover

Weight of Rover

Solar plates

Farm Bot

Batteries

Motors

Tiers

Camera

Herbicide tanks

Form Boot

Control&configuration

Final Deliverable of the Project Hardware SystemCore Industry AgricultureOther Industries IT , Food , Manufacturing Core Technology Artificial Intelligence(AI)Other Technologies Internet of Things (IoT)Sustainable Development Goals Good Health and Well-Being for People, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Partnerships to achieve the GoalRequired Resources

Elapsed time in (days or weeks or month or quarter) since start of the project	Milestone	Deliverable
Month 1	Compilation of Final Year report based on Project	Adequate Documentation Of Project
Month 2	Based on project requirements, Finalize the methods and approaches through which we can achieve the conclusive product	Implementation of Methods & Approaches
Month 3	Design & Develop the appropriate structure of the rover that can be feasible in any environment.	Design & Development of Structure of Rover
Month 4	Classifying & acquiring of feasible components that be necessary for development of rover .	Acquiring all components & append with the final structure
Month 5	Checking the different process and parts of rover either they will be working properly.	Testing & Checking the different process of rover
Month 6	Analyzing the output of rover by implementing real challenges in front and deliver the final product	Analyzing & Delivering the Final product