Plants and Robots: plantoids

Plants are the most important asset for this planet Earth.Plants give away Oxygen that we breath and is our main source of survival.

Farmers bury the seeds and water the plants with sufficient sunlight for the plant to grow.In addition pesticides,fertilizers and some other additives are also added such to maintain its pH and other parameters.The delicate hands of female farmers are used when removing a plant from its roots so as not to damage it.
Alot of hard work is served in maintaining the quality of a plant.

Ever wondered what would happen if this hard work is minimized without effecting the quality of a plant.
Well for that scientists have started a project in late 2013 to devise robotic plants.
The project is known as PLANTOID.

This project was started by Barbara Mazzolai from the University of Italy.A women who took the initiation to lead a project that combines mother nature with technology for the betterment of the World.The unique concept of 'plantoid' can take technology to another level.

Ok...... so what is a plantoid???
Plantoid are the prototype robotic based plants that would behave like a normal plant found in nature.
The sensors in the robot will sense on various parameters on which a plant depends that is temperature,water level, pH, amount of nitrate and other compounds present.

The project has worked on a root mechanism as well.Normally cones are attached to meristem (natural cells) but in case of plantoid, the cones will be attached to a motor such that it will such the liquid plastic and circulate it further.Since liquid plastic gets heat, it gets solidified at the tip and bit by bit the artificial roots gets extended.

Let us hope that this project is commercialized soon such that global warming is minimized and environment gets pleasant again the way it used to before increment of pollution.

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