Solar-Powered Robot Will Guard Your Home, Fertilize Your Lawn
If you’re not freaked out by the idea of a robot roaming around outside your house, you might be interested in Louisiana State University’s AgBot. The solar-powered multi-function robot can do everything from taking care of your garden to guarding your house at night.
AgBot has the impressive ability to both fertilize soil and plant seeds. It even has a built-in GPS to map out the land and mark structures to ensure it doesn’t bump into them.
The robot has an impressive built-in security system, too—it has a night-vision camera on top of a 360 degree swivel, a high-frequency alarm system, and an advanced motion detector. If AgBot senses motion, it will take a picture of the intruder and e-mail you a photo.
AgBot is still very much a prototype—its battery only lasts for 4 hours, making it a weak security device. But AgBot’s programmers expect the robot to eventually use stronger motors that will lead to a longer life.
When the robot does go on sale, its price tag won’t be out of reach for most consumers. The prototype was built for only $2,000, so a commercial version can probably be produced on the cheap.
Photo Credit: LSU
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November 29th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
So when your dead asleep this robot will be emailing you photos of raccoons in your yard. I would suggest arming it with a mower blade and cup holder. That way it can mow my lawn and bring me a beer while I watch it do my chores. If I’m too lazy to push around a Scott’s spreader than I don’t deserve to own a lawn. Looks like a Mars rover gone bad. WHERE’S THAT BEER?
January 19th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
personally, i find it a bit disturbing. are people so lazy that they need a robot to plant seeds? i can see the security point of view. that’s pretty neat. although, the area where i live in London you’d have to arm it with a sub machine gun and a few hand grenades
January 28th, 2009 at 6:01 am
the bot should be able to cut the grass at a particular height after the grass has grown to a particular height it should be able to detect it and cut the grass
Is it able to water the grass ?
I dont know about it ., If not I t should hove a watering system.
And the security system should be more advanced.
February 11th, 2010 at 8:47 am
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