Farming is a difficult and labor-intensive endeavor. One of the most difficult aspects of growing food is dealing with weeds. If weeds take hold in a field of crops, they can kill up to 40% of the produce.
There are two ways to combat weeds in the field. First, there are herbicides. There are well-documented consequences for spraying fields with chemicals. Second, you can have humans pick the weeds. This is extremely time-consuming, expensive, and can be dangerous in the heat of the summer.
Introducing Farmbot. Scientists have created an autonomous robot that can identify weeds in a field and kill them with lasers. These robots can work within the rows of crops and micro-target weeds and kill them. This is far more effective, efficient, and eco-friendly compared to spraying the fields with herbicides or paying crews to pick the weeds. As of now, these robots are diesel-powered, but the goal is to make them electric eventually.