Robotic weeding: Reducing the environmental and human impact of crop production

This project aims to reduce the environmental and human impact of crop production by minimising herbicide inputs to crops and to alleviate problems faced by growers due to lack of suitable chemicals. One research question is can herbicides precisely applied to leaves of weeds give acceptable weed control while avoiding any direct application to the crop or soil? A second is constraints to adoption among farmers and growers. This project aims to reduce the environmental and human impact of crop production by minimising herbicide inputs to vegetable crops and to alleviate problems faced by growers due to lack of suitable chemicals. The key research question is can herbicides precisely applied to leaves of weeds give acceptable weed control while avoiding any direct application to the crop or soil? An ultra-precise applicator system applying viscous droplets of herbicide is the key element of the project. Although the student will not need to be involved in the engineering design, results will inform development of a prototype robot (with other UK and USA collaborators). The ultimate aim is to develop a commercial system for high value horticultural field vegetable crops in the UK and elsewhere.