Artificial intelligence is taking over your backyard

The garden was probably the last place most of us would expect to see an infiltration of technology, but it’s becoming a reality with mowers, weed-pickers and sprinkler systems to name a few.

Techopedia defines artificial intelligence (AI) as, “an area of computer science that emphasizes the creation of intelligent machines that work and react like humans. Some of the activities computers with artificial intelligence are designed for include speech recognition, learning, planning and problem solving.”

The devices below are certainly thinking for us when we simply don’t have the time or the bandwidth.

Watering
Droplet^TM is a new kind of sprinkler system – a “smart” one. With the latest technology in robotics, connected services and cloud computing, it transforms vast amounts of data to intelligently determine how to best care for (and water) your plants. Because of its precise and frugal watering practices, Droplet says it can reduce your water consumption by up to 90%.

Mowing
Let’s face it – no one really enjoys mowing the lawn, especially in the heart of summer. But the Automower® has found the answer with its smart technology. By setting up boundary sensors similar to that of robotic vacuums, Automower can get the job done – freeing up time for you to enjoy the outdoors rather than caring for them. It can navigate lawns of any complexity, mows both day and night regardless of weather, is quiet, safe around pets and children and even has a built-in alarm to resist theft.

Weeds
If you don’t like mowing the lawn, chances are you hate pulling weeds. Fear not, there’s a smart technology for that too! Called Tertill^TM this solar powered device lives in your garden and uses sensors to eliminate weeds daily. So how does Tertill know a plant from a weed? Well, weeds are short and plants are tall – it also comes with special collars to help protect smaller plants that could be mistaken for weeds.

Pollinators
Everyone’s aware that the bee population has been in a steep decline of late. Is it possible that smart technology could actually give Mother Nature a helping hand – or wing? Walmart® has recently patented technology for small flying drones that would go from plant to plant, collecting pollen in its tiny bristles and then depositing them where needed. It’s both autonomous or could be manually controlled by humans on a computer.

Fei-Fei Li once said, “As a technologist, I see how AI and the fourth industrial revolution will impact every aspect of people’s lives.” We’d say, mission accomplished.