Weeds are no match for this robot.
Bosch, a German company best known for blenders and power drills, has invented a robot that can kill weeds faster than any human or herbicide. Called the BoniRob, it roams through fields and finds weeds, stomping out two per second with a 1-centimeter-wide drill.
According to Bosch's estimates, farmers need to produce 3% more crops per year to keep up with global population growth. The robot could protect these plants and make plant breeding more efficient. It could also reduce the use of herbicides in farms, which have been linked to cancer.
The Prius-sized robot uses lasers and satellite positioning to move around. It knows its location up to the centimeter.
Farmers usually control weeds by mowing them, through chemical use, or a combination of the two. Mechanical weeders can disturb the soil and damage crop roots, but the BoniRob destroys only the weeds.
