The result of five years of intensive development and testing, the Maverick robot offers an important sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides and manual weed control by independently scanning crops and removing weeds.
The Maverick Robot weeder is equipped with artificial intelligence and precision cameras, allowing it to remove more than 240,000 weeds per hectare with a precision of 2 millimetres, day or night. The intuitive machine removes weeds (including their roots) from the ground – just like a hand weeder, but faster and with more precision. Armed with an interchangeable battery pack, the robot can operate 24/7 and according to the manufacturer, is user-friendly and manageable from any mobile device.
Technology such as Odd.bot’s Maverick robot may prove a viable alternative to reducing and eventually eliminating the need for chemical herbicides for farmers and growers. Not only is manual weeding a time-consuming, intensive and expensive exercise, but with the increasingly stricter regulations, farmers will be forced to switch to more sustainable farming methods.
Trialled by the Dutch organic farm, We Grow Organic, owner Thijs Geerts said: “The Odd.Bot weed robot offers a sustainable alternative to manual weeding, which is becoming more and more expensive and labour intensive” says Geerse. “The robot works autonomously, day and night, which significantly increases our efficiency. Strikingly, the robot recognises and removes young and small weeds even better than human weeds. Where other systems quickly cost a few tons, this solution is within reach for every professional seller. This makes sustainable weed control accessible to a wide group of growers.”
Developed by the Dutch startup Odd.Bot, in association with Delft University of Technology, Wageningen University and Kubota, the team has made substantial progress in developing the precision weeding robot. Odd.Bot is an innovator in the agricultural technology sector, dedicated to developing solutions for farmers that promote sustainable farming practices.