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Robots vs. weeds:

Geographical location
European Union
Keywords
digitisation
drone
Farming equipment and machinery
agricultural robot
Farming practice
precision farming
precision irrigation
weeding
Pest / disease control
herbicide
Agricultural sectors
Crops (generic)
Main funding source
EU Framework programmes
Project acronym
RHEA
Project type
Research project
Starting date
2010
End date
2014
Project status
Completed
Title (in English): 
Robots vs. weeds:
Language: 
English
Objective of the project (native language): 

Weeding is one of the most time and energy consuming tasks in farming. While herbicides can be used effectively to control weeds, it is estimated that only 0.1% of chemicals used for pest and weed control hit their target and the rest of it gets lost in the surrounding environment. This not only causes economic losses but also chemical hazards and pollution risks. The development of weeding robots and drones opens new solutions to control weeds and reduce herbicide use. (see additional information field)

Objective of the project (in English): 

NA

Description of activities (native language): 

(see additional information field)

Contact e-mail: 
NA@NA.com
Project coordinator
Organization/Institution name (original language): 
Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas.
Contact person: 
Ana María de la Fuente
Address: 
Calle Serrano 117, 28006, Madrid (Spain).
E-mail: 
NA@NA.com
Partner category: 
Researcher
Further details
Additional information: 

The RHEA project developed new weed detection sensors, targeted spraying systems and control programs to produce robots that can identify weeds and eliminate them using both chemical and mechanical methods.
The so called weed terminators are 3 terrestrial robots designed to operate in wide row crops, narrow row crops and woody perennials. The robots could identify and eliminate 90% of the weeds present in the test fields, saving 75% on herbicides compared to conventional application.
http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/95055_en.html