Moscow Students Build Robot to Combat Invasive Arion vulgaris
The device offers a more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional pest-control methods.
Tenth-grade students Ivan Skvortsov and Arseny Pirogov from Moscow School No. 2120 have developed an autonomous robot designed to combat invasive Spanish slugs (Arion vulgaris). The pests pose a threat to a wide range of agricultural crops and are typically controlled with chemical treatments. The students' invention offers a more environmentally friendly alternative.
The device functions somewhat like a robotic vacuum cleaner. It combines artificial intelligence with a built-in web camera to locate slugs and suction them into a collection container. The robot is also equipped with sensors that allow it to navigate around obstacles on its own. When the container becomes full, the user receives a notification through a messaging app.
The project has already received recognition at the citywide Engineers of the Future conference. Next year, the students plan to further improve the robot in hopes of achieving an outright victory over the invasive pests.
