By completely automating the labour-intensive process, China has created the first laser-based cotton topping robot in history, completely changing the cotton farming industry. This autonomous robot, which was jointly developed by Xinjiang University and EAVision Robotic Technologies, outperforms conventional manual labour by using lasers, lidar, and artificial intelligence to work up to ten times faster than human workers.
Cotton topping, which involves removing the top bud of the plant to reroute nutrients to the side branches and increase cotton production, is a crucial step in the farming process. This method is time-consuming and prone to human error, but it improves yield by requiring accuracy and frequent intervention. Due to visibility issues, traditional methods also restrict cotton topping to daylight hours.
By vaporising the top bud with a powerful blue laser without coming into contact with the plant, the new robot minimises stress and lowers the possibility of damage. Even when plants sway in the wind, the robot’s detection accuracy is increased to 98.9% with lidar and machine vision. It demonstrated its dependability in a variety of circumstances by successfully topping plants more than 82% of the time during field tests.
Significantly faster than human labour, the autonomous robot can process between 0.4 and 0.53 hectares per hour. Its efficiency is increased by the fact that it can operate day or night, in any weather. Additionally, the machine doesn’t use chemicals like herbicides, which makes it a green option for cotton growers.
It is anticipated that this invention will revolutionise cotton production worldwide. It might usher in the age of smart farming by acting as a model for other crops, such as rice and soy. The successful development of this laser-topping robot, according to experts, represents the attainment of true mechanisation in China’s cotton production and could have an impact on agricultural practices globally.
