Electric Dock Fork
Automate plant-by-plant weeding with smart electric technology.
"Fribourg Agri&Food's support enabled us to take this project all the way to a market-ready product—from the initial idea to the very first product."
-
Contexte et défis
Contexte
Dock is a particularly problematic weed in grasslands and agricultural crops, with a direct impact on farm productivity. In many sensitive areas—including organic farms, field margins, water catchment zones, and land close to waterways—the use of herbicides is heavily restricted or prohibited.
In these settings, manual removal is often the only option, despite being labor-intensive, costly, and physically demanding. As a result, effective weed management becomes more difficult, allowing invasive plants to become firmly established.
-
Objectifs et impacts
Objectifs et impacts
The project aims to develop an automated weeding solution capable of treating individual weeds without the use of herbicides.
By combining camera-based detection, artificial intelligence, and targeted electric treatment, the system eliminates weeds directly at the root. This approach helps reduce reliance on herbicides, improves weeding efficiency, and meets growing demands for more sustainable farming practices.
In the long term, the project paves the way for a new generation of agricultural equipment that is more precise, autonomous, and environmentally friendly.
-
Résultats attendus
Résultats
The project led to the development and validation of a functional prototype capable of detecting and treating individual dock plants with precision.
Field trials were carried out under real farming conditions, with monitoring before and after treatment. The results showed a plant mortality rate of up to 96% within a few weeks, confirming the effectiveness of the solution.
The trials also helped optimize the electric treatment system and identify key factors affecting performance, such as soil moisture and component insulation.
Development is ongoing, with the goal of delivering a reliable, automated solution that can be adapted to a wide range of farming conditions.
