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Old May 22, 2018   #1
taboule
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Default Robots and weed fighting

Not organic but a step in the right direction, as it lowers the use of weed killers.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-f...-idUSKCN1IN0IK

What I'd like to see is, instead of targeted spraying, they instead build in a robotic arm that extends and pulls out the weed.
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Old May 22, 2018   #2
Worth1
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Originally Posted by taboule View Post
Not organic but a step in the right direction, as it lowers the use of weed killers.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-f...-idUSKCN1IN0IK

What I'd like to see is, instead of targeted spraying, they instead build in a robotic arm that extends and pulls out the weed.
Got one here at the house.
Runs on low voltage organic electricity and bio mechanics.
Comes with several tool attachments too.
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Old May 23, 2018   #3
Douglas_OW
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Originally Posted by Worth1 View Post
Got one here at the house.
Runs on low voltage organic electricity and bio mechanics.
Comes with several tool attachments too.
Pulling weeds disturbs the soil and stirs new weed seeds to the surface. If only someone would invent a magic ray gun to recognize and zap the weeds...

https://www.sciencedaily.com/release...0607094152.htm

https://www.wired.com/2011/11/ray-guns-vs-weed/

http://www.afmc.af.mil/News/Article-...e-weed-zapper/


Jim
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Old May 23, 2018   #4
taboule
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Got one here at the house.
Runs on low voltage organic electricity and bio mechanics.
Comes with several tool attachments too.
Does it also cook and ferment stuff and smoke meats by any chance?
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Old May 25, 2018   #5
bower
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Default

Thanks for posting it, Taboule... what an interesting read!

I'm with you 100%, let the robots pull - or clip and mulch - why not? Especially if solar powered.

Some of the agrochemical industry versions sound pretty awful. Imagine six different weed killers onboard, for a variety of combinations against resistant weeds... Unknown, combo residues in the field - but only in spots. So most of the food would test clean, but every now and then, somebody gets a nasty little chem residue coctail.
I would be more concerned about inconsistent residue levels of multiple chems, as a consumer, than I am now with the knowledge that yes some residues are present but they are monitored and expected to comply with a standard of safety. I have no reason to expect the industry would do adequate safety research on all the combinations of weed killing products. So there are a lot of questions raised in that article.
Can't wait to hear about the first organic robot!!
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Old May 25, 2018   #6
Worth1
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Does it also cook and ferment stuff and smoke meats by any chance?
Yep just download the program.

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Old May 25, 2018   #7
taboule
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Bower, I agree about the cocktail risk, scary unintended consequence from the mix that can be more lethal than the individual elements.

Worth, OK i'll give it a try, feeling lazy this weekend and could use some help ;>) But not with smoking, i got energy for that. I'll be trying new techniques on a few things: a Boston butt, baby backs, and some beef short ribs. My wife eats little meat but enjoyed the beef ribs I did last time, she liked it better than pork.
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