SlugBot: Autonomous Slug Monitoring and Bio-molluscicide Treatment System

拟议的项目是一项可行性研究，旨在开发一种创新的改变游戏规则的技术，用于自主段塞流监测和精确的生物杀软体剂处理系统。蛞蝓是农业和园艺作物的主要害虫，目前的控制方法依赖于含有三聚乙醛或磷酸铁的化学杀螺剂颗粒。生物杀螺剂也可作为基于线虫的产品，但这些产品在耕地和油菜作物中使用并不经济。因此，对三聚醛的过度依赖导致了对英国水系统以及非目标生物的负面影响。这推动了对段塞虫监测的推动，然而，目前的方法很费力，许多农民没有参与这一关键实践。因此，化学杀菌剂的应用仍然是不必要的，这导致了市场对自主段塞流监测系统的需求，该系统生成的数据可用于经济高效的生物杀菌剂精确处理。该项目的产出有可能对英国经济产生重大影响，通过加强段塞流监测和控制，帮助农场提高产量。该项目还带来了环境效益，为生物杀软体剂开辟了更广阔的市场，从而减少了对三聚乙醛的依赖。该项目最初以英国耕地和油菜市场为目标，旨在将该技术推向国际。

The proposed project is a feasibility study to develop an innovative game-changing technology for autonomous slug monitoring and precision bio-molluscicide treatment system. Slugs are major pests in agricultural and horticultural crops, with current methods for control relying on chemical molluscicide pellets, containing either metaldehyde or Iron (Ferric) phosphate. Bio-molluscicides are also available as nematode based products, but these are not economical for use in arable and oilseed rape crops. Therefore, there has been an over reliance of metaldehyde which has led to a negative impact on UK water systems, as well as on non-target organisms. This has initiated a push to promote slug monitoring, however current methods are laboursome with many farmers not partaking in this key practice. Therefore, there continues to be unnecessary applications of chemical molluscicides leading to a market demand for an autonomous slug monitoring system, with data generated for the cost-effective precision treatment with bio-molluscicides.The outputs of the project have the potential to have a significantly impact on the UK economy by helping farms achieve increased yields through enhanced slug monitoring and control. The project also brings environmental benefits by opening a wider market for bio-molluscicides, thus reducing the reliance of metaldehyde. The project is initially targeted to the UK arable and oilseed rape market, with the aim of taking the technology international.