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An AI robot is spotting sick tulips to slow the spread of disease through Dutch bulb fields

Mar 26, 2024 - apnews.com
Theo, a robot designed to identify and remove diseased tulips, is being used in the Netherlands to combat the spread of the tulip-breaking virus. The robot, named after a retired employee at the WAM Pennings farm, checks each plant and removes infected bulbs, which are then separated from healthy ones in a sorting warehouse. The virus stunts the growth and development of the plants, leading to smaller, weaker flowers and eventually rendering the bulbs unable to flower.

There are currently 45 such robots patrolling tulip fields across the Netherlands. The robots use artificial intelligence to identify sick flowers and GPS coordinates to pinpoint the flowers that need to be destroyed. The AI model is built on the knowledge of tulip farmers. Despite the high cost of the robot, farmers prefer it as it is more efficient and accurate in spotting diseased tulips than humans.

Key takeaways:

  • A robot named Theo is being used in the Netherlands to identify and remove diseased tulips from fields, helping to prevent the spread of the tulip-breaking virus.
  • The robot, which costs 185,000 euros ($200,000), uses artificial intelligence to identify sick flowers and GPS coordinates to pinpoint their location.
  • There are currently 45 such robots patrolling tulip fields across the Netherlands as part of efforts to tackle the virus, especially during the peak season.
  • The technology was developed by H2L Robotics, and the AI model used by the robots is based on the knowledge of tulip farmers.
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