Andela develops an autonomously operating weeding machine with 12 robotic arms
Andela Techniek & Innovatie reduces the reliance on manual labour in organic farming by the development of a fully robotic and autonomously operating weeding machine.
Who is Andela?
Andela Techniek & Innovatie has developed a fully robotic and autonomously operating weeding machine. This nine-metre-wide machine is equipped with 12 cameras that use an advanced algorithm to differentiate between weeds and crops. The cameras transmit the coordinates of the weeds to the 12 robotic arms that then eradicate the weeds with heat. This method leaves the soil undisturbed, preventing the creation of a new germination bed for weeds.
Project Outcome
Eltrex Motion supplied a crucial component for the robot: maintenance-free linear guides from PBC Linear. These guides ensure that the robotic arms move smoothly and efficiently.
'The guide must be lightweight to preserve the soil structure, maintenance-free, and resistant to dust.'
Do you have a similar challenge? Get in touch with us.
Twelve robotic arms
Manual weeding in organic farming requires a significant amount of labour, which is becoming increasingly difficult to find and costly. There is a growing need to automate the weeding process to reduce reliance on manual labour and improve efficiency. That is why Andela developed the "hands" for their innovative Andela Robot Weeder 912 (ARW-912).
Andela about Eltrex Motion
'Eltrex has a solution for everything and is able to respond swiftly and deliver promptly from its own stock. We had a demo of the PBC Linear guide here in no time at all.'
Andela enlists help from Eltrex for weeding robot
The robot arms can be infinitely adjusted to different distances. 'This must be done with great precision, without the robotic arms rotating,' Andela explains. As a result, the guides were a major concern during the development of the ARW-912.
Andela continues, 'It quickly became clear to us that we needed a rail system for the guidance, but with so many options available, it was difficult to choose the right one.' However, after the initial contact with Eltrex Motion, the ideal solution quickly took shape. 'Eltrex proposed a linear guide from PBC Linear as a solution. This guide is self-cleaning and maintenance-free, unlike many other linear guide solutions.'
Feel free to contact us. You can reach us by phone at +31 (0)76 789 00 30 or +32 (0)3 328 07 60. You can also fill in the contact form. We will process your enquiry as soon as possible.
