IDS case study: Goodbye weed (poison)

Intelligent robot with uEye+ industrial camera eliminates the need for herbicides

Plant protection products are an integral part of today's agriculture. They are intended to protect crops and keep out weeds and pests. In 2019, according to the German Federal Environment Agency, the group of herbicides (weed killers) accounted for 50.6 % of the plant protection products dispensed. Unfortunately, in addition to the desired effect, these also harbour numerous risks for humans and the environment. In this way, they endanger biodiversity and water quality of adjacent areas. Biological diversity is declining. The Rowesys student project was launched in summer 2019 at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich with the aim of developing a robot for more sustainable agriculture without the excessive use of herbicides. On the underside of the robot is a uEye+ industrial camera with GigE Vision interface.