On the Development of Intelligent Autonomous Agricultural Robot

Abstract

This study discuss the development of an intelligent autonomous agricultural robot, designed to detect and treat diseases affecting herbaceous medicinal plants using artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. Herbaceous plants are particularly prone to diseases and require regular monitoring due to their rapid growth and short flowering periods. Leveraging technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence, farmers can now efficiently identify and address plant diseases at early stage. In this work, we present an intelligent autonomous robot capable of proactively identifying and treating herbaceous diseases as a preventive measure. We developed a robust algorithm to control the robot's movements within predefined areas inside plant greenhouses. Through the use of Pixy camera, the robot can detect plant yellowing, prompting it to halt and direct a nozzle towards the identified plant, initiating a preventive spraying process at predetermined times and positions. Furthermore, the robot is equipped with a companion computer responsible for disease identification using deep learning algorithms. This identification capability enables farmers to make immediate decisions and initiate disease treatments promptly. The entire system was developed, implemented, and initially tested outside our labs. The testing results corroborate the system's practicality and demonstrate that the prototype may be simply implemented to provide an added-value to the farmers of herbaceous medicinal plants.