This National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project, awarded under the NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (CFDA 47.084) program, is developing a robotic platform for automated weed control in fruit crops. The $275,000 award to Ground Control Robotics, Inc. will fund the creation of swarms of low-cost, legged robots that can locomote under crop canopies to identify and mechanically remove weeds throughout the growing season. This is intended to reduce reliance on herbicides and manual labor for weed management, helping domestic fruit producers meet growing consumer demand more efficiently and sustainably. The project leverages recent advancements in centipede-inspired robotic locomotion to create a rugged, terrain-adaptive system for agricultural applications. Successful development of this technology could also lead to broader use cases beyond agriculture, such as in search-and-rescue and defense operations.
Generated 11/19/24, 2:33 AM