Robots declaring war on weeds
KILLER robots could soon roam the British countryside... zapping weeds and pests with 12,000 volts or even lasers, writes Tony Whitfield.
Called Dick, they can single out individual weeds hidden among cereal crops, doing away with chemicals and protecting soil health.
Developed by agritech start-up the Small Robot Company, Dick works with Tom, a scout robot that uploads its data to Wilma, the system’s artificial intelligence brain.
When Dick’s cameras spot a weed, Wilma issues the order to kill.
CEO Ben Scott-robinson said: “This is a major technological milestone which will enable automated, precision, per-plant weeding at scale and autonomously, providing a post-chemical future for arable farmers for the first time.”
KILLING MACHINE: Dick can zap individual weeds
MICHAEL BALL has warned Boris Johnson that long-lasting delays to opening up the country after June 21 could destroy trust between the Government and the entertainment industry.
He said: “What we want is clarity.
“At the moment we will forgive.we will understand if we don’t have the end of social distancing on June 21, providing we’re told it’s just for two weeks to roll out more vaccinations.”
It will hurt but we’ll do it. If it goes beyond that, I think there will be a real problem.”
Michael believes the industry needs more financial help if delays carry on. He added: ”Mistakes have been made but it would be good if they owned up to them.we were over-promised last December and then everything was ripped away.we did 10 shows of Les Miserables and it cost (producer) Cameron Mackintosh millions when it was forced to close again.
Live theatre and events need to have an underwritten Covid insurance.
“No one will insure anybody right now. If we were underwritten by the Government then people would be prepared to take the punt. Otherwise, producers will say ‘I can’t do it. It’s better not to open. I’ve lost all this money and I don’t have anything left’.
“That will be a huge problem.we have no shows without producers putting them on, just empty theatres.the facts are plain – theatre generates so much money for this country. Not just the tickets but the knock-on effect of people who come in to see shows and go to restaurants and bars.
“And let’s not forget, it is also so good for your mental health.
“The Government either has to stick to opening up fully and we’ll take our chances and try and entice people back to the theatre by making people feel safe – which they are. Or they need the underwritten insurance. Otherwise we won’t forgive them.”