MOST AGROCHEMICALS (E.G. HERBICIDES) ARE APPLIED UNIFORMLY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT DISTRIBUTION OF TARGET PESTS, PATHOGENS AND WEEDS IS TYPICALLY PATCHY. UNIFORM APPLICATION WASTES VALUABLE AGROCHEMICALS BY APPLYING WHERE LITTLE OR NO PROBLEMS EXIST. THE RESULT IS INCREASED COSTS, RISK OF CROP DAMAGE, PEST RESISTANCE TO CHEMICALS, ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND CONTAMINATION OF THE EDIBLE PRODUCTS.THE MAIN GOALS OF THIS PROJECT ARE TO (I) DEVELOP FURTHER A LOW-COST, HIGH THROUGHPUT, AND SMART TECHNOLOGY TO SIMULTANEOUSLY SCOUT AND SPRAY A VARIETY OF WEEDS WITH DIFFERENT HERBICIDES; (II) DEVELOP LOW-COST AND MULTI-CROP AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PRECISION SPRAY TECHNOLOGY; (III) DESIGN AND DEVELOP A HIGH-LEVEL TASK PLANNING AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR THE AUTONOMOUS PRECISION SPRAYERS; AND (IV) QUANTIFY THE ECONOMIC PARAMETERS NECESSARY FOR THE SYSTEM TO BE COMMERCIALLY SUCCESSFUL.

Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh PA

Investigators