17-05-2025
Centipede-inspired robots promise cheaper weed control for vineyards, blueberry farms
A giant robotic centipede could soon crawl out of the lab and into vineyards and blueberry farms in the United States.
Inspired by nature's long, slender, and wiggly movers, Ground Control Robotics (GCR), an Atlanta-based startup, has developed a robotic centipede designed specifically for tough agricultural terrain.
Built with a simple design, the robot consists of a sensor-equipped head followed by several identical segments connected by cables, each powered by a couple of motors that move its legs.
While this setup technically offers many degrees of freedom, it achieves impressive performance through relatively straightforward control methods.
'Centipede robots, like snake robots, essentially move like swimmers,' explains Daniel Goldman, director of CRAB (Complex Rheology and Biomechanics) Lab at Georgia Institute of Technology, told IEEE Spectrum.
But the addition of legs lets these robots navigate a wider variety of environments.
Their unique cable-driven legs generate a fluid-like thrust mimicking the motion of real arthropods, allowing these 'robophysical' models to 'swim' through uneven ground without getting stuck or damaging crops.
By carefully coordinating the lifting and lowering of legs, the robot can help it push off surfaces and maintain steady, reliable motion.
'We developed a new mechanism that shifts actuation from the robot's centerline out to the sides via cables,' Goldman said. 'When tuned correctly, the robot transforms from rigid to flexible in one direction, and that's when the magic happens — it can swim through complex terrain effortlessly, all without any brain power.'
Unlike traditional robots, these multi-legged machines navigate complex environments with surprising ease.
The initial focus is on automating weed control and crop monitoring in perennial farms where traditional machinery struggles. Manual weeding in such fields can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars per acre, with labor shortages only making it harder.
According to GCR, no automated solutions currently exist for weed control around tangled, bushy, or vine-like crops such as blueberries, strawberries, or grapes. The company believes their robotic centipedes could be the game-changing alternative.
'We want to send the robot as close to the crops as possible,' Goldman said. 'And we don't want a bigger, clunkier machine to destroy those fields.'
GCR anticipates that its robotic centipedes will be significantly more affordable than conventional agricultural robots, with projected costs in the thousand-dollar range. This cost efficiency stems from the relatively inexpensive leg modules and the reliance on mechanical intelligence rather than complex sensors or computational systems. The company envisions deploying a decentralized swarm of these robots capable of operating autonomously in fields around the clock.
In the initial phase, the robots will focus on scouting and monitoring, which already provides substantial value to farmers.
The bug-like robot can deliver herbicide directly to the weed as well as remove it mechanically. Ground Control Robotics
Over time, GCR aims to equip the robots with active weed-removal mechanisms—potentially including specialized grippers or even laser-based solutions—offering a scalable, low-cost alternative to existing methods.
Ground Control Robotics is currently collaborating with a blueberry grower and a vineyard owner in Georgia to conduct pilot programs. These trials will help refine the robot's navigation and sensing capabilities before broader deployment.
The company is also exploring potential applications beyond agriculture. Future use cases could include disaster relief operations and even military deployments. However, as Daniel Goldman notes, different environments may necessitate alternative limb configurations or the capability for the limbs to retract entirely, depending on specific operational demands.
