Development of an intelligent robot for an agricultural production ecosystem - New concept of robot and dynamics of a golden apple snail in Paddy -

Abstract

A new concept of an intelligent robot for agriculture was discussed from the viewpoint of agricultural production ecosystem. In the case of the paddy field in temperate and subtropical zones, a mollusk named golden apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata, (Lamarck)) often causes serious damage to the rice plant seedlings, however, the snail is very useful in the control of weeds that cause also detriment of the production of rice, especially in organic agriculture. After the golden apple snails invaded the paddy field of Kyushu University Farm, the superior weed well-known as Tamagayatsuri (Cyperus difformis L.) was not found there, because the snails consumed all the weeds. Experiments on the dynamics of the golden apple snails showed that almost all the snails were gathered inside of the furrows, after water was drained from the bath or paddy. The intelligent robot supposed to realize the agricultural production ecosystem in the paddy will estimate the populations of snails, and make decisions and operations to remove the snails based on the appropriate model.