Objectives of the service
Heibjerg is developing an autonomous robotic solution to address the labour-intensive task of weed control in gravel and stone-paved areas, commonly found in cemeteries, housing associations, sports arenas, and parks. The current challenge for users is the high cost and time-consuming nature of manual weeding, with sites requiring 10-12 treatments per year, amounting to approximately €10,000 per hectare annually. Labor costs are the primary driver of these expenses, even when using specialized equipment.
The solution provided by Heibjerg involves a small robot that combines hot water and mechanical methods to perform the weeding autonomously. This innovation aims to reduce labour dependency and significantly lower operational costs. By integrating Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology with additional sensors, the robot can navigate complex sites and carry out precise treatments without human intervention.
The objective of the project is to automate and optimize the weeding process, reducing the cost, labour, and environmental impact associated with traditional methods. The project will demonstrate the effectiveness of this technology, especially in sites with intricate layouts such as cemeteries, and will showcase its potential for broader applications.
Users and their needs
The Heibjerg Robotic Weeding solution is designed primarily for garden professionals, groundskeepers, and facility managers who oversee weed control on larger sites such as cemeteries, parks, and housing associations. These users face a growing set of challenges, including stricter herbicide regulations in many EU countries, the extended weed season due to climate change, and increased fire hazards from traditional weed burners during dry periods.
Users are looking for:
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Reduction in labour dependency: The need for automated solutions to minimize the reliance on manual labour.
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Reduction of CO2 footprint: A more sustainable approach to weed control, with reduced environmental impact.
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Elimination of fire hazards: A safer alternative to traditional methods, especially in dry conditions.
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Increased flexibility: The ability to perform weed treatment at any time without disrupting the site schedule.
This project is based in Denmark. Initially Heibjerg is targeting local cemeteries and housing associations. However, there is a strong interest in spreading to other sites and regions as well.
Service/ system concept
The Heibjerg Robotic Weeding solution provides groundsmen with an efficient, automated tool for targeted weed control. Users define the area to be treated, either on-site or via an app, and the robot systematically navigates and covers the designated zones. Using advanced vision technology, the robot identifies individual weeds and applies spot treatments with boiling water, significantly reducing energy consumption—by up to 65% compared to conventional methods that treat the entire surface indiscriminately.
The system consists of two main components: a mobile robot and a service station. After completing its tasks, the robot autonomously returns to the station to refill water, recharge, and stand by until the next scheduled operation. Users can easily configure treatment schedules, adjust targeted areas, and monitor real-time progress via an app, which also provides notifications about any operational issues.
At a high level, the system architecture integrates GNSS-based navigation, onboard vision-based weed detection, adaptive treatment control, and wireless communication with the app interface, ensuring both autonomy and full user oversight.
Space Added Value
The core navigation system is fundamentally based on GNSS-derived positioning. Heibjerg is currently investigating how emerging technologies—specifically Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS) and multi-constellation RTK-enabled receivers—can provide low-cost, high-precision navigation solutions for outdoor mobile robots. Operating within an urban environment presents significant challenges, as signal degradation caused by obstructions such as trees, overhead structures, and multipath effects due to reflected signals can lead to unreliable satellite reception. To address these limitations, the project is also exploring the integration of complementary sensor technologies aimed at enhancing navigation reliability under sub-optimal GNSS conditions, all while maintaining a strict focus on cost-effectiveness.
To overcome the limitations of GNSS-only navigation in urban environments, the project explores the use of sensor fusion techniques. By integrating additional sensors such as inertial measurement units (IMUs), wheel encoders, and vision-based systems, the goal is to enhance the robustness and reliability of the navigation solution, in a compute efficient manner.
Current Status
The project is progressing steadily. We are currently conducting field tests of the Heibjerg Robotic Weeding solution at local cemeteries and housing associations, working closely with site personnel. The weeding, detection, and navigation technologies are under continuous development and refinement through an active co-creation process with our test partners. To capture operational requirements, we have conducted multiple interviews and site visits with groundsmen responsible for the sites. Based on their feedback, we have significantly refined the prototype to better meet user expectations. Preparations are underway for a structured weeding test campaign starting on May 25.
Prime Contractor(s)
