Undergrads’ weed-killing robot wins top prize

Cornell undergraduates won the Farm Robotics Challenge, outperforming 95 other teams with an autonomous weed-control robot designed for vineyards and orchards. The machine travels without a human operator and uses a small electrical charge to kill weeds. The team says this approach could reduce labor and energy use, avoid herbicides, and limit crop losses caused when weeds compete with trees for water and nutrients.

Agricultural sciences student Andrew James led a group combining agricultural and engineering expertise. Over four months, the students examined existing electric-weeding systems, created a lower-energy approach, and built a working prototype. Team members included Natalia Kurz, a biological engineering major, Michael Neiss, and Neil Morrison. Kurz described the demanding development period as involving many late nights.

The $50,000 grand prize will support the team’s new company, Rootline Robotics. Award sponsor Reservoir, an agricultural technology firm, will host the startup in its incubator in Sonoma, California. James said the competition and industry support reinforced the case for pursuing an agricultural-robotics startup.

The project addresses a costly problem for orchard and vineyard operators. Organic growers often rely on string trimming, mowing, and mulching, which require substantial labor. James said existing electric weeders generally need an operator, use high amounts of energy, and average $150,000 in cost. South Hill Cider owner Steve Selin, who advised the students, said weeds can stress trees enough to make them drop fruit. He is interested in testing Rootline’s technology, particularly for reducing spring and early-summer weed competition. The team plans to refine the system and validate it with growers before commercialization while Kurz and Neiss complete their degrees.