A new robot equipped with an innovative “electronic green thumb” can identify plant species by simply touching their leaves. The robot uses a technique inspired by human skin, enabling it to assess the texture and water content of leaves with greater accuracy than current computer vision systems.
According to Zhongqian Song, a researcher at Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, this technology has the potential to transform crop management and ecosystem research. It could also aid in the early detection of plant diseases, which is essential for maintaining plant health and ensuring food security.
The robot works by making contact with a leaf through an electrode. When the electrode touches the leaf, it measures several key properties: the amount of charge that can be stored at a given voltage, the difficulty of electrical current moving through the leaf, and the force applied as the robot grips the plant.
This data is then processed using machine learning to identify the plant species, as each plant species and growth stage displays unique values for these properties.
While the robot shows significant promise in fields such as precision agriculture, ecological research, and plant disease detection, it still faces challenges. According to Song, the robot struggles with identifying plants that have complex structures, such as burrs or needle-like leaves. This issue could be addressed by refining the robot’s electrode design.
In summary, while still in development, this robot could play a key role in advancing plant science, offering new tools for monitoring plant health and supporting sustainable agriculture.
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