Page 5 - OPE Sep-Oct 2021

OUTDOOR POWER TECHNOLOGY
Making Trax to the future?
CLIPPINGS
Local and International News
THE ANNUAL BEST Awards
highlight New Zealand’s best design work across all categories.
They also usually reveal some fascinating concept work, particularly from design students, and this year is no exception.
Among the Finalists in this year’s Student Product Design category is Trax, by
Massey University College of Creative Arts industrial design student Zene Krige.
Trax is an autonomous ground vehicle that spots-sprays weeds on agricultural land. Designed with farmers in mind, Trax aims
to minimise herbicide use while effectively suppressing weeds.
Zene explains her thinking: “Currently, broad-spectrum spraying causes excessive amounts of herbicide to enter the environment, causing herbicide resistance over time.
“Weeds outcompete grass for nutrients, sunlight and water, resulting in less productive pasture for livestock.
“Existing methods of treatment are time- consuming for farmers and costly on a seasonal basis, and extended exposure to chemicals have been linked to some health concerns.
“Weeds affect pasture productivity with an annual cost of $165.79 million in New Zealand and require early detection and eradication before more intensive effort is required to eradicate them and they spread their seeds, starting the next cycle.”
Trax however is designed to reduce the amount of herbicide being applied using hyper-spectral cameras that identify weeds (a proven technology) and target the centre of the weed for maximum accuracy and effectiveness.
Able to hold three different herbicides, Trax can use the correct mixture for different weeds, as well as reporting the location of weeds within a paddock so farmers can make informed decisions about pasture management.
Trax has also been designed for a long life, with replaceable parts as opposed to replacing the whole vehicle and using recycled HDPE for chemical resistance.
See Zene’s Best Awards project at the shortened URL below and an extended portfolio at her own website.
https://bit.ly/39mNpB0 https://zene.design/work n
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