Weed detection and control using autonomous mobile robot

Project Title

Weed detection and control using autonomous mobile robot

Project Area of Specialization RoboticsProject Summary

INTRODUCTION

When farmer grows crops, some unwanted plants also grow with these crops which are called weed plants. These weed plants effect the yield of crops and in some ways even contaminate the crops. So, getting rid of these weeds are very important for high yield of crops.

Types of Weed Control

• Cultural

• Mechanical

• Chemical

• Biological

1. Cultural method

                            Cultural weed control includes non-chemical crop management practices ranging from variety selection to land preparation to harvest and  postharvest processing. cultural weed control is a part of integrated use of cultural ,manual, or mechanical.

Limitation

• Need good knowledge and understanding of various cultural practices that can reduce the weed pressure.

• Some practices are labour intensive.

• Need Continuous monitoring.

2. Mechanical method

                                            Mechanical weed control is an physical activity that inhibits unwanted plant growth. Mechanical control techniques can be either selective or non-selective. A selective method has very little impact on non-target plants where as a non-selective method affects the entire area that is being treated. If mechanical control methods are applied at the optimal time and intensity, some weed species may be controlled.

• Hand weeding

• Tillage

• Mulches

• Flooding

• Fire

3. Chemical method

                                         In chemical weed control, chemicals called herbicides are used to kill certain plants or inhibit their growth. No need to wait for weeds to grow bigger for hand weeding. Herbicides can differentiate between rice and weeds, even at seedling stage where it is very difficult for people to see the difference.

Limitation

                 Herbicides are toxic substances, which if used unwisely or incorrectly can cause health and environment problems. Drift risk to neighbours crop.

4. Biological method

                                          Bioagent like insects, pathogen etc., and other animals are used to control weeds. Insect and pathogens infest weeds and they either reduce growth or kill weeds. Biological control method can reduce weeds but it is not possible to eradicate weeds.

Examples of Biological Weed Control

Bioagent

               Insect, Two beetles, Fungi

Proposed solution

The approach of this project is to develop an automatic mobile robot that detect the weed plants in the field and can kill by mechanical way. Robot give location through GPS systemand robot base on five dc motors, one motor is use for speed control and other four motors are use for movement of each tire. And robot can move automatically from one line to another line.

Project Objectives

The objectives of this project are

i. Development of  robot for weed removal

ii. Self Localization

iii. Speed control of the robot 

iv. Position control of the robot

Project Implementation Method

a) Develop an efficient and robust autonomous mobile robot that works in field. 

b) Automatically and effectively control the mobile robot and give his exact location through GPS system.

Benefits of the Project

The approach of this project is to develop an automatic mobile robot that detect the weed plants in the field and can kill by mechanical way. Robot give location through GPS systemand robot base on five dc motors, one motor is use for speed control and other four motors are use for movement of each tire. And robot can move automatically from one line to another line.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

This project has both hardware and software requirements as all project hardware such as

• Micro Controller 

• GPS Sensor 

• Motor

Final Deliverable of the Project HW/SW integrated systemCore Industry AgricultureOther IndustriesCore Technology RoboticsOther TechnologiesSustainable Development Goals Good Health and Well-Being for People, Climate ActionRequired Resources

Item Name	Type	No. of Units	Per Unit Cost (in Rs)	Total (in Rs)
			Total in (Rs)	72910
12 volts dc motors 6A for turing the rebot	Equipment	4	2250	9000
12 volt dc motors 12A for changing position	Equipment	2	3200	6400
Aurdino mega 3	Equipment	2	1600	3200
Raspberry pi 3 B computer board	Equipment	2	8050	16100
bettery 175Ah 12V	Equipment	1	15000	15000
gauge-assorted-jumper-wire	Equipment	3	750	2250
dfrobot-assorted-jumper-wires-premium	Equipment	3	1150	3450
IBT-2 motor driver	Equipment	4	1500	6000
Speed sensor	Equipment	4	250	1000
Ultrasonic sensor	Equipment	3	170	510
Robot design Mecheniacl body and traveling rent	Miscellaneous	4	2000	8000
Robot tyres	Equipment	4	500	2000