News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Small robots may kill the tractor and make farming efficient by MichaelMoser123 on Sunday November 11, 2018 @03:31PM (#18428410)
how fast and of what size must such a robot be so that it becomes cost efficient?
Re:Small robots may kill the tractor and make farming efficient by throwaway76543 on Sunday November 11, 2018 @03:47PM (#18428496)
There are existing prototypes of laser systems for killing fast moving insects such as mosquitos. Imagine a device on a fence pole covering the surrounding acre.

There are plenty of slow moving pests, weeds and the like as well.

Re:Small robots may kill the tractor and make farming efficient by ryacko on Sunday November 11, 2018 @03:52PM (#18428514)
Or we could eat less fresh fruit, buy more fruit for baking and already canned fruit.
Re:Small robots may kill the tractor and make farming efficient by mkl on Sunday November 11, 2018 @05:32PM (#18429092)
Where do you think that canned and baking fruit comes from? It's grown just the same.
Re:Small robots may kill the tractor and make farming efficient by Nzen on Sunday November 11, 2018 @08:25PM (#18429938)
Presumably, canned fruit could involve less organic waste as the canner can use ugly fruit that consumers may reject for long enough that it spoils.

I don't know enough to guess whether this is more energy 'efficient', given that we need glass or metal containers, in this case.

Re:Small robots may kill the tractor and make farming efficient by ip26 on Monday November 12, 2018 @12:17AM (#18430739)
Yes, but there's probably less loss & spoilage in the supply chain for canned/frozen/dried/etc.
Re:Small robots may kill the tractor and make farming efficient by mkl on Monday November 12, 2018 @03:54AM (#18431385)
Same pest/weed control, though, and that's what we were talking about.