Abstract
The weeding efficiency of a weeding robot was tested in a paddy field. We replaced the transplanting unit of a rice transplanting robot developed at the National Agricultural Research Center with a weeding unit. Deviation of the weeding track from the transplanting track was 0.02m (RMS) and the extent of rice damage ranged from approximately 2% in 30cm-wide crop rows to 8% at the headlands, indicating that the weeding robot was capable of weeding without damaging the rice in approximately the same transplanting track. Additionally, the resulting field work efficiency was 22a/h, which was equivalent to that of a human-operated weeding machine. The weeding robot thus has acceptable driving accuracy and achieves labor-savings through unmanned operation.
