For most home and property owners, weeds are an unsightly growth that needs to be chemically treated and manually removed throughout the growing season. For the agricultural industry, weeds can prove disastrous. Weeds tend to grow quickly, leading to problems that can get out of hand before you know it. Weeds will steal the nutrients from the soil needed for crops to grow optimally. An outbreak of weeds can decimate crops.

Some agriculturists have begun using drone technology to identify weeds among their crops. Drones are also being used to spray chemicals for weed management on farms around the world. In fact, the agricultural industry represents one of the fastest-growing sectors supporting drone technology.

In May 2024, a team of researchers from the VVT Technical Research Centre of Finland published their findings on using a drone to physically remove weeds that have sprouted. VVT is a Finnish state-owned research institute considered one of the finest such establishments in Europe. As stated on VVT’s website, “We advance the utilization and commercialization of research and technology in commerce and society. Through scientific and technological means, we turn large global challenges into sustainable growth for businesses and society.”

Advancements in agricultural practices are paramount to a sustainable future, which is why Jarkko Kotaniemi, Niko Känsäkoski, and Tapio Heikkilä set out to develop a drone at VVT that can handle pesky weeds. Specifically, they are targeting Rumex weeds, which can be harmful to crops and livestock. The team first developed a computer-based program that would enable a drone to identify different types of plants and a weed map—a map of a designated region outlining where targeted weeds are located.

The next step was to build a drone that could use the computer’s weed map to mechanically remove Rumex weed seedlings before they get out of hand and require chemical intervention. The drone was built in VVT’s labs and then tested in a nearby field. There are still some issues to be addressed, such as how the drone deals with obstacles, but it is a great starting point.

“We have presented an automatic mechanical weeding robot that removes weeds from pastures without the use of herbicides,” Kotaniemi, Känsäkoski, and Heikkilä concluded in their paper. “It is based on a lightweight mobile platform, lightweight robot arm with a force/torque sensor, consumer grade 3D camera, and weeding tool. Tests in a real pasture have shown the feasibility of these technologies for robotic weeding.”

On a smaller scale, Joe Jones introduced a drone for backyard garden enthusiasts that will continually remove unwanted weeds. Best known for inventing the Roomba, essentially a drone that vacuums your home, Joe launched his latest venture, Tertill, in 2015.

Tertill is a solar-powered drone that you place in your garden. The design shares a lot of similarities with a Roomba, but instead of sweeping and sucking up dust and dirt, the Tertill churns soil and cuts down weed seedlings. “Tertill Weeding robot controls weeds in two ways,” the company website explains. “First, its specially designed wheels churn up the top layer of dirt disrupting many weed seeds from ever growing. If any weeds do manage to sprout, the robot cuts it down with its onboard string trimmer. The whacked weeds are small and fall to the ground, shrivel up and decompose – returning the nutrients back to the soil.” Sensors on the drone recognize taller plants to be bypassed. Anything small enough to fit under the drone gets cut down.

By placing the drone in a garden once plants are taller than the height of Tertill, the drone will continuously patrol the space. As it goes around the garden, it is constantly tilling the soil to keep nutrients fresh and weeds at bay. Tertill comes with metal guards to protect newly planted plants. “Lots of studies have shown the amazing positive impact gardening has on your physical and mental well-being, but gardening can also be frustrating. That’s where we come in,” Tertill’s website goes on to say. “Tertill makes innovative products that help with the not-so-fun stuff, like weeding and fertilizing, so you can spend your precious gardening time doing the things you love.”

The integration of drones for mechanical weed removal not only offers a more sustainable approach by reducing reliance on chemical herbicides but also enhances efficiency in managing weed infestations. Whether in expansive farms or modest backyard gardens, these advancements reflect a broader trend towards embracing technology for smarter, more eco-friendly practices. As researchers and developers push the boundaries of what drones can achieve, the future of weed management looks promisingly greener, offering solutions that are both effective and environmentally conscious.

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