SBIR Phase II: Precision Weeder

NSF Award Search · 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT · $1,232,087 · view on nsf.gov ↗

Abstract

The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is that it will result in the development of an automated weeder that can remove weeds without using chemicals or soil tillage. The two common methods of weed control in the agricultural industry, herbicides and soil tillage, have a negative impact on the environment and soil sustainability. The health of the microbial environment in the soil is degraded by the use of herbicides and soil tillage. In addition, herbicides have a negative impact on the food supply and the agricultural workers who apply them. At this time, the only option for weed control of mid-to-late-stage weeds without the use of herbicides or soil tillage is manual labor, which is more expensive. The successful development and testing of the automated weeder will provide the agricultural industry with a cost-effective solution for weed control that promotes soil sustainability, reduces chemical use in the food supply, and safeguards the health of agricultural workers. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project involves the development of an automated weeder that will remove weeds for large and small commercial farms. Advances in machine vision have made it possible to identify the individual plants in a field and determine which plant is the crop and which one is the weed. Similar to hand weeding, the automated weeder will eliminate each individual weed. The novel design of the weeder wil

Key facts

NSF award ID
2450654
Awardee
Harvest Moon Automation (MA)
SAM.gov UEI
U3NUHUW5MUE5
PI
Stephen C Jens
Primary program
01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
All programs
ROBOTICS
Estimated total
$1,232,087
Funds obligated
$1,232,087
Transaction type
Cooperative Agreement
Period
07/01/2025 → 06/30/2027