AI plant exhibit wins award at Chelsea Flower Show

1 hour ago

Eleanor MaslinEast Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

News image — The exhibition attracted interest from the mayor of London

University of Lincoln Two men standing next to a black screen which shows a black and white photo of a plant in a pot. A table below it shows three labels saying "plant" with other wording below. Tablets are also on the table. Next to it is a lit-up case with a plant in it and on the far wall it says "Robocrops" with more text and a QR code underneath it. One of the men has a lanyard on and his hands outstretched while the other man, wearing a suit, is looking inquisitively at the screen. — The exhibition attracted interest from the mayor of London

An exhibition featuring a health scan for plants has won an award at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Created by the University of Lincoln, the RoboCrops: Plant Selection, Beyond the Visible display includes a combination of robotics, plant science and artificial intelligence.

The project monitors a plant's growth, structure and health, as well as signs of stress and disease invisible to the human eye.

The stand attracted interest from visitors including London Mayor Sadiq Khan, and was awarded a Silver Gilt medal by the show.

University of Lincoln A green plant with long pointy leaves with white specks on them is in a white pot on a white circular stand. Next to it are tubes with a camera pointed down towards the plant. The table it is on and the background are white and lit up by artificial lighting. A black screen is next to it, and on the other wall are plant sketches and labels. — The RoboCrops exhibition at the Chelsea Flower Show

The exhibit was presented by the University of Lincoln's Institute for Agri-Food Technology within the show's GreenSTEM zone.

When he visited the stand at the show, Khan discussed the future potential of the technology, the university said.

Prof Simon Pearson, founding director of the institute, said: "One of the most rewarding aspects we've already seen this week has been the level of curiosity and engagement from visitors, particularly young people, around how robotics, AI and plant science can work together to address some of the major challenges facing horticulture and food production."

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