A Variable Autonomy approach for an Automated Weeding Platform

Abstract

Climate change, increase in world population and the war in Ukraine have led nations such as the UK to put a larger focus on food security, while simultaneously trying to halt declines in biodiversity and reduce risks to human health posed by chemically-reliant farming practices. Achieving these goals simultaneously will require novel approaches and accelerating the deployment of Agri-Robotics from the lab and into the field. In this paper we describe the ARWAC robot platform for mechanical weeding. We explain why the mechanical weeding approach is beneficial compared to the use of pesticides for removing weeds from crop fields. Thereafter, we present the system design and processing pipeline for generating a course of action for the robot to follow, such that it removes as many weeds as possible. Finally, we end by proposing a trust-based ladder of autonomy that will be used, based on the users' confidence in the robot system.