U of I, USDA demo robotic weeding system to improve national reforestation
August 01, 2024
MOSCOW, Idaho 鈥� 果冻传媒麻豆社 recently demonstrated an advanced robotic device used to eradicate weeds at the Coeur d鈥橝lene Nursery. The project is in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to improve national reforestation efforts.
The 3-foot-wide autonomous wheeled robot, designed by U聽of聽I computer science students, uses artificial intelligence to scan, identify and precisely locate weed growth up to one-half inch. The robot uses electricity to eradicate weeds.
鈥淚t鈥檚 all about sustainability. The robotic device U聽of聽I is developing underscores the Forest Service鈥檚 commitment to conservation leadership and biological diversity,鈥� said Kas Dumroese, a retired senior research scientist for the U.S. Forest Service who led the initial development of the project. 鈥淎utonomous weed eradication will reduce our labor costs and reliance on chemical pesticides and fossil fuels, improving locally adapted plants and strengthening reforestation efforts.鈥�
Dumroese and representatives from all six Forest Service nurseries nationwide were present to witness the demonstration.
The U.S. spends approximately $500,000 annually on weeding at its national tree seedling nurseries. Reducing weeds will improve access to soil nutrients, strengthen seedling quality, reduce nursery costs and ultimately improve reforestation success.
Next steps for the robot include weatherizing hardware, improving electrical components and using images captured during demonstrations to improve weed identification.
Data collection and testing will continue through 2025, and potential future work could include system testing on other nursery fields and using weather data to aid in weed management efforts.
U聽of聽I recently earned a grant from the USDA to develop the robot. The U聽of聽I team includes computer science graduate students Garrett Wells of Boise and Brent Knopp of Coeur d鈥橝lene; undergraduate student Kevin Wing of Coeur d鈥橝lene; John Shovic, director of U聽of聽I鈥檚 Center for Intelligent Industrial Robotics; and Mary Everett 鈥�20, 鈥�23 of Lewiston, a postdoctoral researcher at the center.
鈥淲orking with industry, our students can fully understand the needs of the people behind the goal,鈥� Shovic said. 鈥淥ur students take the hands-on experience they gain at the center and use it to fulfill a real need at the national level.鈥�
U聽of聽I College of Engineering students work directly with state-of-the-art mobile and full-size robots used in a variety of applications through the Center for Intelligent Industrial Robotics. Robotics research and training labs across the state prepare students to fill global manufacturing labor shortages. The center also offers Idaho鈥檚 first industrial robotics certificates.
MEDIA NOTE: Photos of the demo are available for download .
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Media Contact
Alexiss Turner
Marketing and Communications Manager
U聽of聽I College of Engineering
208-885-7511
alexisst@uidaho.edu
About the 果冻传媒麻豆社
The 果冻传媒麻豆社, home of the Vandals, is Idaho鈥檚 land-grant, national research university. From its residential campus in Moscow, U of I serves the state of Idaho through educational centers in Boise, Coeur d鈥橝lene and Idaho Falls, nine research and Extension centers, plus Extension offices in 42 counties. Home to more than 12,000 students statewide, U of I is a leader in student-centered learning and excels at interdisciplinary research, service to businesses and communities, and in advancing diversity, citizenship and global outreach. U of I competes in the Big Sky and Western Athletic conferences. Learn more at uidaho.edu.